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Cities of South Africa - Johannesburg

History of Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the capital of the Gauteng province in South Africa. Johannesburg is a city that is a hive of activity and is considered to be the unofficial commercial capital of South Africa.

Although Johannesburg only became officially a city in 1928 it was set up as a town as early as 1886. The town was set up on a piece of land that was previously a farm called Randjieslaagte. At that time the Government owned the property and auctioned off 980 stands which lead to the establishment of the town.

The name of the town of Johannesburg was derived from the names of two commissioners,Johannes Rissik and Christiaan Johannes Joubert. They were the commissioners who had confirmed the discovery of gold by George Harrison in the area. Street names such as Rissik, Harrison and Commissioner in Johannesburg commemorate the roles these individuals played in the establishment of the town.

By the time gold was discovered in the Johannesburg area the diamond rush in Kimberley was already reaching its end. When these diamond prospectors heard of the discovery of gold in the north many left Kimberley for Johannesburg. They arrived in the area in their droves and new shops and houses made out of corrugated iron was erected almost overnight. It soon became a lively town with pubs, shops and canteens opening all the time.

Within three years Johannesburg became the largest town in South Africa with over 630 000 ounces of gold mined by the end of 1889. The business sector in Johannesburg was growing fast and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was founded.

The town experienced its fair share of growing pains. September of 1889 saw the first strike by mine workers for less hours and more pay. Water was also a problem with the private company supplying water to the town being unable to keep with the demand.

Johannesburg has grown rapidly since then and has become a large town with a charm of its own. The city is currently undergoing a transformation with efforts of attracting business and cleaning up the city.