Situated on theHighveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only 1.5% of the country's land area, it is the most populous province in South Africa, with more than a quarter (26%) of the national population;[7] the provincial population was approximately 16.1 million, according to mid-year 2022 estimates.[8] Highly urbanised, the province's capital is also the country's largest city,Johannesburg. Gauteng is the wealthiest province in South Africa and is considered the financial hub of South Africa; the financial activity is mostly concentrated in Johannesburg. It also contains the administrative capital,Pretoria, and other large areas such asMidrand,Vanderbijlpark,Ekurhuleni and the affluentSandton. The largest township,Soweto, is also found in this province. Politically, it is the closest contested province between the nationalistAfrican National Congress and the liberalDemocratic Alliance in South Africa.[9]
The nameGauteng is derived fromSotho-Tswanagauta, meaning 'gold'.[10] There was a thriving gold industry in the province following the1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg.[11] InSesotho,Setswana andSepedi the nameGauteng was used for Johannesburg and surrounding areas long before it was adopted in 1994 as the official name of the province.
Gauteng was formed from part of the oldTransvaal province after South Africa's first multiracial elections on 27 April 1994. It was initially calledPretoria–Witwatersrand–Vereeniging (PWV) and was renamed "Gauteng" on the 28th of June 1995, the same day two other provinces were renamed.[10] The term "PWV" describing the region existed long before the establishment of a province by that name,[12] with the "V" sometimes standing for "Vaal Triangle" rather than Vereeniging.[13][14]
Events in this area were not written down until the 19th century;[15] information from before that time is lost or difficult to confirm.[15] The first records are from the early 19th century, when settlers originating from theCape Colony defeated chiefMzilikazi and started establishing villages in the area.[15]
The city of Pretoria, established in 1855 as the capital of theSouth African Republic, witnessed rapid growth until the discovery of gold in the Witswatersrand area in 1886, which led to the founding of Johannesburg.[12][15] Despite slower development compared to Johannesburg, Pretoria maintained significance, notably due to its pivotal role in theSecond Boer War.[15] The nearby town ofCullinan gained international acclaim in 1905 when the largest diamond ever discovered, theCullinan Diamond, was mined there.[12]
The Johannesburg City Hall, home of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
Gauteng is governed by theGauteng Provincial Legislature, a 73-personunicameral legislature elected byparty-list proportional representation. The legislature elects one of its members asPremier of Gauteng to lead the executive, and the Premier appoints anExecutive Council of up to 10 members of the legislature to serve as heads of the various government departments. The provincial government is responsible for the topics allocated to it in thenational constitution, including such fields as basic education, health, housing, social services, agriculture and environmental protection.
The undulating hills that form part of the rural areas in the province just north of Johannesburg. Although Gauteng is a heavily urbanised province, much of its area is extensively cultivated for agriculture.
Gauteng's southern border is theVaal River, which separates it from theFree State.[10] It also borders onNorth West[10] to the west,Limpopo[10] to the north, andMpumalanga[10] to the east. Gauteng is the only landlocked province of South Africa without a foreign border.[10] Most of Gauteng is on theHighveld, a high-altitude grassland (circa 1,500 m or 4,921 ft above sea level). BetweenJohannesburg andPretoria, there are low parallel ridges and undulating hills, some part of theMagaliesberg Mountains and theWitwatersrand. The north of the province is moresubtropical, due to its lower altitude and is mostly drysavanna habitat.
In the southern half of Gauteng, the Witwatersrand area is an older term describing a 120 km wide oblong-shaped conurbation fromRandfontein in the West toNigel in the East, named after theWitwatersrand, a geologically and economically important series of low ridges and their associated plateau that greater Johannesburg developed on. This area is also often referred to simply as "Witwatersrand", "the Rand" or "the Reef" (archaic, after the gold reefs that precipitated the development of the area), and was the "W" inPWV, the initial name for Gauteng. It has traditionally been divided into the three areas ofEast Rand (governed by theEkurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality), Central Rand (approximately today'sJohannesburg Municipality) andWest Rand.[18][19]
The climate is mostly influenced by altitude. Even though the province is at asubtropical latitude, the climate is comparatively cooler, especially inJohannesburg, at 1,700 m (5,577 ft) above sea level (Pretoria is at 1,330 m or 4,364 ft). Most precipitation occurs as brief afternoon thunderstorms; however, relative humidity never becomes uncomfortable. Winters are crisp and dry with frost occurring often in the southern areas. Snow is rare, but it has occurred on some occasions in theJohannesburg metropolitan area.[20][21]
Climate data for Pretoria, elevation 1,308 m (4,291 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–1990)
As of the2022 census, Gauteng had a population of 15,099,422, an increase of 23.0% from the last census in2011. Despite being the smallest province by area, it has the highest population of any South African province, with 24.3% of the total South African population.[30]
As of 2022, there are 5,318,665 households in Gauteng. The population density is 831/km2. The density of households is 155.86/km2.
About 22.1% of all households are made up of individuals. The average household size fell slightly between the 2011 census and 2022 census, from 3.1 to 2.8 persons.[31]
The province's age distribution was 23.6% under the age of 15, 19.6% from 15 to 24, 37.9% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 27 years. For every 100 females there are 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.3 males.
Of residents, 86.1% are Christian, 4.3% haveno religion, 1.6% are Muslim, 0.1% are Jewish, and 0.7% areHindu; 6.0% stated Traditional African religions as their faith.[31]
Of residents, 8.4% aged 20 and over have received no schooling, 11.2% have had some primary, 5.5% have completed only primary school, 34.3% have had some high education, 28.0% have finished only high school, and 12.6% have an education higher than the high school level. Overall, 40.6% of residents have completed high school.
Of housing units, 56.1% have a telephone and/ormobile phone in the dwelling, 41.5% have access to a phone nearby, and 2.3% have access that is not nearby or no access; 82.8% of households have a flush or chemical toilet, while 84.2% haverefuse removed by the municipality at least once a week and 2.6% have no rubbish disposal. Forrunning water, 47.2% have it inside their dwelling, 83.6% have running water on their property, and 97.5% have access to running water. Of households, 73.2% use electricity for cooking, 70.4% for heating, and 80.8% for lighting; 77.4% of households have a radio, 65.7% have a television, 15.1% own a computer, 62.1% have arefrigerator, and 45.1% have a mobile phone.
Of the population aged 15–65, 25.8% is unemployed.
The median annual income of working adults aged 15–65 is R 23 539 ($3,483). Males have a median annual income of R 24 977 ($3,696) versus R 20 838 ($3,083) for females.
Distribution of annual income of Gauteng province (2001)[dubious –discuss][32]
Gauteng is the province with the second highestlife expectancy in the country in 2019 with females having a life expectancy of 69 years and males having a life expectancy of 64 years.[8]
Historically described as thePWV complex,[33] the urban conurbation of Gauteng, referred to as the Gauteng City Region,[34] contains the major urban populations ofJohannesburg (7,860,781 as of 2011[update]),Pretoria (1,763,336),Vereeniging (377,922),Evaton (605,504) andSoshanguve (728,063), coming to an urban population of over 11 million.[35] Thomas Brinkhoff lists a "Consolidated Urban Area" in Gauteng as having a population of 13.1 million as of January 2017[update].[36] The future governmental plans for the region indicate the gradual urbanisation and consolidation towards the creation of a megalopolis that connects these metros. The GCRO is a collaboration between the Universities of Johannesburg and Witwatersrand, the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Provincial Government, and SALGA-Gauteng. The GCRO's purpose is to collect information and create a database on the Gauteng City Region to provide to government, lawmakers and civil society an informed understanding of the fastest urbanizing region in Southern Africa.[34][non-primary source needed]
Gauteng is considered theeconomic hub ofSouth Africa and contributes heavily in the financial, manufacturing, transport, technology, andtelecommunications sectors, among others. It also plays host to a large number of overseas companies requiring a commercial base in and gateway toAfrica.
Although Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa's nine provinces—it covers a mere 1.5% of the country's total land area,[7] the province is responsible for a third of South Africa'sgross domestic product (GDP).[43] Gauteng generates about 10% of the total GDP ofsub-Saharan Africa and about 7% of total African GDP.[44] Gauteng has the highest GDP and GDP per capita of all South Africa's provinces.[45] Gauteng is also the province with the most taxpayers and the highest average taxable income per taxpayer according to theSouth African Revenue Service.[46]
Sandton Gautrain Station in August 2010O.R. Tambo International Airport. The biggest airport in Africa
SANRAL, a parastatal, is responsible for the maintenance, development and management of allnational road networks in South Africa.[47] SANRAL is responsible for instituting the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, which was met with a lot of opposition due to the tolling of Gauteng motorists.[48][49] Many importantnational routes run through Gauteng such as theN1,N3,N4,N12,N14 and theN17. Johannesburg is quite dependent onfreeways for transport in and around the city. TheR21,R24,R59,M1 andM2 all run through Johannesburg while theR80 connects Pretoria Central to Soshanguve.The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project led to a large decrease in traffic congestion when construction finished 2011–2012.Cape Town, for the first time in decades, is now the most congested city in South Africa.[50][51]
PUTCO, the largest commuter bus operator in South Africa,[52] services the Gauteng area extensively.[53] Thebus rapid transit systemRea Vaya also serves to transport people from Johannesburg's southern neighbourhoods into and around theCBD.[54] In an interview,Parks Tau stated that by 2040, Johannesburg will be dominated by pedestrians and public transport as opposed to the use of private transport or informal transport, such as minibus taxis.[55]
Gautrain andMetrorail both service the province's public transport sector where trains are concerned[56][57] and Gautrain offers a bus service that transports commuters to and from various train stations and predetermined bus stops.[58] Metrorail trains are considered one of the most cost-effective methods of transportation in and around Gauteng.[59]
There is a large informal transport sector in Gauteng, consisting of thousands ofminibus taxis, which many of the urban and rural population makes use of.[59][63] However, it is noted that taxis are often unsafe as their drivers ignore the rules of the road and the vehicles are often notroadworthy.[63] The City of Johannesburg stated that: "major initiatives are under way to completely reform the taxi industry and provide more comfort and safety to customers." In March 2017, it is reported that Gauteng alone has 4,7 million registered vehicles under the "GP" abbreviation via the eNatis system.[64][63]
In 2002, the Gauteng Department of Education founded an initiative calledGauteng Online in an attempt to get the entire province to utilize a wide assortment of electronic and telecommunications systems.[65] In 2007, this initiative was handed over to the Gauteng Department of Finance.[65]
In the 2013 national budget speech, it was announced that the Gauteng Department of Education would be granted overR700 million to improve education and to alleviate issues concerning the overcrowding in schools, a shortage in teaching staff and transport for poor pupils.[66]
In 2017/2018, the Gauteng Provincial government spentR42.4 billion on education which accounted for 38% the province's total expenditure.[67]
Several teams from Gauteng play in the country's top-levelsoccer league, thePremiership, includingMamelodi Sundowns,SuperSport United,Kaizer Chiefs andOrlando Pirates. The national squadBafana Bafana frequently play at Soccer City in Johannesburg. During the2010 FIFA World Cup, the first world cup held by an African nation,[72] Gauteng's stadia hosted many games. The first FIFA world cup match on African soil took place at Soccer City on 11 June 2010.[73][74] Along with Soccer City, Loftus Versfeld Stadium and Ellis Park Stadium hosted matches in Gauteng.[75]
Rugby, or more accuratelyrugby union, is a popular sport in South Africa, and in Gauteng in particular. Two rugby teams from Gauteng participate in theUnited Rugby Championship: thePretoria-basedBulls, and theJohannesburg-basedLions. Three Gauteng-based teams play in the country's domestic competition, theCurrie Cup: theBlue Bulls from Pretoria, theGolden Lions from Johannesburg and theFalcons from theEast Rand. In 1995, South Africa hosted the1995 Rugby World Cup and proceeded to win the tournament at Ellis Park Stadium on 24 June 1995.[76] The events surrounding the world cup formed the basis of the story for the movieInvictus.[77]
Many South African universities take part in theVarsity Rugby league. Of these, the Gauteng universities include the University of Pretoria, the University of Johannesburg and the University of the Witwatersrand.[78]
Manymarathons take place in Gauteng, such as theSoweto Marathon, Gauteng Marathon, the Arwyp Medical Centre 15 km Nite Race and the Trisport Joburg City Triathlon.[79][80][81][82]
Golf, horse racing and swimming are also popular. TheVaal River facilitates water sports in the forms of jet skiing, water skiing and motor boating.[71] Adventure sports are also quite popular in Gauteng, particularly skydiving, paragliding and hang-gliding.[71]
^South African Census, 2022 (Report). Statistics South Africa. 16 May 2024. p. 1. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved16 May 2024.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"About Gauteng". Gauteng Provincial Government. Archived fromthe original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved25 October 2008.
^abcde"Gauteng". South African History Online.Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved3 May 2013.
^Geyer, H. S. (1990). "Implications of differential urbanization on deconcentration in the Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vaal Triangle metropolitan area, South Africa".Geoforum; Journal of Physical, Human, and Regional Geosciences.21 (4):385–96.doi:10.1016/0016-7185(90)90019-3.PMID12284151.
^South African Journal of Science. South African Association for the Advancement of Science. 1975. p. 365.Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved23 September 2020.
^"Government Gazette"(PDF). South African Government Printing Works. 25 October 2012. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 March 2013. Retrieved2 May 2013.
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