Krugersdorp

Krugersdorp (Afrikaans for Kruger's Town) is a mining city in the West Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa founded in 1887[2] by Marthinus Pretorius and Abner Cohen.[3] Following the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, a need arose for a major town in the west of the reef. The government bought part of the Paardekraal farm and named the new town after the Transvaal president, Paul Kruger. Krugersdorp no longer has a separate municipal government after it was integrated into Mogale City Local Municipality along with surrounding towns. It is now the seat of government for Mogale City.

Krugersdorp
Featherbrooke estate in Krugersdorp
Featherbrooke estate in Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp is located in Gauteng
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp is located in South Africa
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp is located in Africa
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp
Coordinates: 26°6′S 27°46′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
DistrictWest Rand
MunicipalityMogale City
Established1887
Area
[1]
 • Total247.22 km2 (95.45 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total140,643
 • Density570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African42.3%
 • Coloured1.4%
 • Indian/Asian5.4%
 • White50.2%
 • Other0.8%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Afrikaans42.0%
 • English19.5%
 • Tswana14.5%
 • Zulu4.8%
 • Other19.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1739
PO box
1739
Area code011

History
Town Hall in Krugersdorp

Krugersdorp is the site of a December 1880 gathering at which more than 6,000 men vowed to fight for the Transvaal's independence.[2] Founded in 1887 by Marthinus Pretorius after the discovery of gold on his farm, Paardekraal, thereafter the mining industry played an important role in the development of the city. Two important events in the history of South Africa: the Transvaal War of Independence (1881) and the discovery of the Witwatersrand Goldfields (1886) took place in Krugersdorp. These events had far-reaching political and economic consequences for the country's development.[4]

In April 1887, the South African Republic's (ZAR) Executive Council purchased part of the farm Paarderkraal to build a town called Krugersdorp.[5]: 35  By the time the town was founded, the existence of the gold reef along the Witwatersrand had become common knowledge, and thousands seeking their fortunes pitched their tents and pegged claims. In 1888, Krugersdorp was proclaimed a separate gold field.[6] By 1895, the proclaimed goldfields was separated from Krugersdorp, and the town and Distriksdorp, near the monument, were merged in April that year.[5]: 35  By 1903, Krugersdorp became a municipality.[5]: 35 

During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), the British built a concentration camp in the valley that is now occupied by the Centenary Dam. This camp was overlooked by the "D" Shaft of the Luipardsvlei Estate Gold Mining Company, which was shut down in 1929 when mining shifted to deeper ore bodies that offered the prospect of larger tonnages. As of 2014 this shaft is being brought back into production. Part of the heritage of the area will feature in a museum to be built post-closure. An essential part of the museum's content will be the Boer War legacy.[7]

In 1952, the West Rand Consolidated Mine was the first in the world to extract uranium as a byproduct of the gold refining process.[8]

Demographics

Krugersdorp is home to the South African Branch of Jehovah's Witnesses, The Watchtower Bible, and Tract Society.[9]

In 2010, the town's Coronation Park area received international exposure for the depiction of Afrikaner poverty by Finbarr O'Reilly.[10][11][12] In 2014, the area was exposed again as a subject of the BBC documentary Reggie Yates' Extreme South Africa: White Slums.[13]

Economy
A view from Coronation Park overlooking the old town with the West Rand Consolidated Mines dump on the horizon

Gold, manganese, iron, asbestos and lime are all mined in the area.[14]

Krugersdorp has a modern business centre and shopping malls alongside many smaller shops, schools, and necessary amenities. There are also game reserves and a nearby bird sanctuary.[14]

Krugersdorp is served by the Jack Taylor Airfield which is easily accessible from Pretoria via the R28/N14 highway, and more commonly by the N1 highway, Lanseria International Airport on the R511 which is used for travel to Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport which is South Africa's main international airport located in Johannesburg.[14]

The nearby 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) Krugersdorp Game Reserve in the dense bush of the veld holds a large quantity of game and is one of the city's major tourist attractions. Also in close proximity are various provincial heritage sites including the Cradle of Humankind and its Sterkfontein Caves[2] and the Wonder Cave.[15]

Law and government

Name change

Although the city's municipality changed its name from Krugersdorp to Mogale City,[16] the assumption that the city's name has been officially changed to Mogale City has been refuted by the Mogale City Municipality [17]

Coat of arms

Krugersdorp was proclaimed a municipality in 1903. By 1931, the municipal council had assumed a pseudo-heraldic coat of arms. The shield was divided by a horizontal line, the upper half subdivided by a vertical line, the three sections depicting (1) the Paardekraal monument, (2) a mining landscape, and (3) a plough. The motto was Labor omnia vincit improbus.[18]

A proper coat of arms was designed in the 1960s. It was registered with the Transvaal Provincial Administration in November 1965[19] and at the Bureau of Heraldry in January 1969.[20] The arms were : Per chevron ploye Azure and Or, dexter two mine hammers in saltire and sinister a cogwheel all Or, and in base the Paardekraal Monument Gules. In layman's terms, the shield was divided by a curved chevron-shaped line into blue and gold, displaying two crossed mine hammers and a cogwheel at the top, and the Paardekraal monument at the bottom. The crest was three horses' heads issuing from a golden mural crown; the supporters were an eland and a gemsbok; and the motto was Labor omnia vincit improbus.

Attractions

Krugersdorp has popular tourist attractions such as Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Maropeng Visitor Centre, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens and Sterkfonten Caves.[21]

The town is the host of the annual Gauteng Beach Party held at Coronation Park.[22] In recent years the event has featured performances by:

  • DJ Sbu
  • DJ Cleo
  • Winnie Khumalo
  • TBo Touch
  • TKZee
  • Brown Dash

Afropop sensation Mafikizolo and Ntando Bangani are noted acts that hail from Krugersdorp.[23]

Sports

Krugersdorp also has an 18-hole golf course and many facilities for extreme sports.

Infrastructure

Local clinics
  • Central Clinic
  • Kagiso Clinic B
  • Azaadville Clinic
  • Munsieville Clinic A
  • Dr Kaka Clinic

Provincial hospitals
  • Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital (Paardekraal)
  • Sterkfontein Hospital
  • Leratong Hospital

Private hospitals
  • Krugersdorp Private Hospital
  • Bell Street Day Hospital
  • Netcare Pinehaven Hospital
  • Medi-Cross Clinic

Education

The schools in Krugersdorp include:[24][25]

  • Alma Mater International School
  • Krugersdorp High School
  • Town View High School
  • Thuto-Lefa Secondary School
  • Hoërskool Monument
  • Hoërskool Jan De Klerk
  • HTS Nic Diederichs
  • St Ursula's School
  • Hoërskool Noordheuwel
  • Hoërskool Bastion
  • Laerskool Muldersdrif
  • Laerskool Kenmare
  • Rant en Dal School for learners with Autism and SID
  • Hoërskool Pro-Practicum
  • Laerskool Millennium
  • Laerskool Ebenhaeser
  • Curro Krugersdorp Private School
  • Laerskool Paardekraal
  • Monument Primary School
  • Laerskool Krugersdorp Noord
  • Ahmed Timol Secondary School
  • Azaadville Muslim School
  • Silverfields Primary School
  • Tina Cowley Reading Centre Krugersdorp [26]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Main Place Krugersdorp". Census 2011.
  2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Krugersdorp" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 932.
  3. Lipkind, Joseph (14 October 1898). "Cohen, Abner". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  4. Fourie, Chantel. [PHOTOS] Krugersdorp from a historical perspective, Krugersdorp News, 5 June 2015. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  5. "Krugersdorp". South African Panorama. Information Service of South Africa. 19 (1). 1974 – via Internet Archive.
  6. Discovery of the Gold in 1884, South African History Online. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  7. Krugersdorp, South African History Online. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  8. A western town sparks a new golden era, the rise of Krugersdorp, facsa.co.za. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  9. Lotriet, Alanicka.Who and what is the Watch Tower Society on Robert Broom Drive?, Krugersdorp News, 4 September 2018. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  10. Poverty, and Little Sympathy, in South Africa (Lens) New York Times. 25 June 2010
  11. White poverty in South Africa Reuters. Retrieved on 31 December 2010
  12. Tough times for white South African squatters, Reuters.com. 26 March 2010.
  13. The Slums: Reggie Yates' Extreme South Africa, TV review: A reversal of a racial trope The Independent. 20 February 2014
  14. Krugersdorp, www.gauteng-info.co.za. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  15. KRUGERSDORP HISTORY AND INFORMATION, Johannesburg Happenings. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  16. http://www.gautengfilm.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=876 Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  17. "What's in a town's name? - News24". 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  18. The arms were depicted on a cigarette card issued in 1931.
  19. Transvaal Official Gazette 1381 (17 November 1965).
  20. http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za%5B%5D
  21. "Things to do in Krugersdorp". www.safarinow.com. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  22. Tsumele, Edward (22 September 2009). "Peaches on the beaches". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  23. Stich is back!, Krugersdorp News, 7 July 2019. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  24. These are Gauteng's most popular public schools, TimesLIVE, 5 December 2017. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  25. Browse Schools in Krugersdorp at School4SA, Schools4SA. Retrieved on 7 September 2019.
  26. "Tina Cowley Reading Centre Krugersdorp". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
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