Roodepoort
| Roodepoort | |
|---|---|
  Roodepoort | |
|
Location within Greater Johannesburg  Roodepoort  Roodepoort Roodepoort (South Africa)  Roodepoort Roodepoort (Africa) | |
| Coordinates: 26°9′45″S 27°52′21″E / 26.16250°S 27.87250°ECoordinates: 26°9′45″S 27°52′21″E / 26.16250°S 27.87250°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | City of Johannesburg |
| Established | 1884 |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 161.50 km2 (62.36 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 326,416 |
| • Density | 2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011)[1] | |
| • Black African | 51.4% |
| • Coloured | 8.2% |
| • Indian/Asian | 4.0% |
| • White | 35.4% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011)[1] | |
| • English | 29.8% |
| • Afrikaans | 24.0% |
| • Zulu | 9.0% |
| • Tswana | 8.8% |
| • Other | 28.4% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 1724 |
| PO box | 1725 |
| Area code | 011 |
Roodepoort is a city in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality, Roodepoort became part of the Johannesburg municipality in the late 1990s, along with Randburg and Sandton. Johannesburg's most famous botanical garden, Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens (now renamed Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden), is located in Roodepoort.
History
In 1884, brothers Fred and Harry Struben, having discovered gold on the farm Wilgespruit at the western end of the Witwatersrand, were granted concessions to mine the area. When George Harrison's find at Langlaagte came to light and gold fever took hold, the Strubens brothers were joined by a swarm of gold diggers. Other areas such as Maraisburg were prospected and mined by A.P. Marais and at Florida, the owners were van der Hoven, Bantjies and Lys.[2]:286 Though the Struben brothers' Confidence Reef bore little gold and their mine was unprofitable, the ramshackle town that grew around it became the Roodepoort Municipality in 1904.[2]:286 Incorporating the towns of Hamburg, Florida and Maraisburg, Roodepoort became a city in 1977, and has since developed as one of Johannesburg's most prominently-Afrikaans-speaking districts.[2]:286
Geography
Communities
Residential areas in the new developing parts of Roodepoort are expanding at a faster pace than anywhere else in South Africa. This growth is said to be fueled by various factors such as the fast-growing Black middle class, the close proximity to other large Gauteng cities and established and advanced infrastructure.
Economy
Retail
Roodepoort has seen large population growth due to Johannesburg urban sprawl. Areas of interest for entertainment include the Featherbrooke Village shopping centre which is one of the student hotspots. Roodepoort has a wide variety of restaurants and shopping centres.
Sport
The city has a large golf course called Ruimsig Country Club in the suburb Ruimsig. Another smaller golf course is the Jackel Creek Golf Estate. Roodepoort Athletics Stadium is also found within the city.
Parks and greenspace
The Roodepoort area has numerous parks and green areas. Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, formerly known as the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, is a 300 hectares (3.0 km2) botanical reserve with grass parks, natural cliff face and waterfall. Another large greenspace is the Kloofendal Nature Reserve, a 128ha park with trails, amphitheatre, dam and small wild mammals. Further to the south is Florida Lake with its bird life and related aquatic activities.
Law and government
Government
Although Roodepoort has traditionally been regarded as being part of the West Rand, it was not made part of the West Rand District Municipality, instead being integrated into the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, following the post-apartheid reorganisation of local government in the late 1990s.
Education
Schools
Roodepoort is home to several private and state schools, including Trinity House and Charter College.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Roodepoort". Census 2011.
- 1 2 3 Conolly, Denis (1975). The Tourist in South Africa. Travel-Guide (PTY) LTD. ASIN B0000E7XZN.
