Springs Spriengs inAfrikaansorthography | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Springs Skyline | |
  Springs  Springs | |
| Coordinates:26°15′17″S28°26′34″E / 26.25472°S 28.44278°E /-26.25472; 28.44278 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | Ekurhuleni |
| Established | 1904 |
| Area | |
• Total | 183.50 km2 (70.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,627 m (5,338 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 121,610 |
| • Density | 662.72/km2 (1,716.4/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 57.5% |
| • Coloured | 1.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 4.4% |
| • White | 36.2% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 30.2% |
| • Zulu | 20.6% |
| • English | 15.7% |
| • Northern Sotho | 8.0% |
| • Other | 25.4% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 1559; 1576; 1578 |
| PO box | 1555–1559; 1560–1575; 1577–1579 |
| Area code | 011 |
Springs is a former independent city that is now part of theCity of Ekurhuleni, based in the east ofJohannesburg (East Rand), inGauteng Province, South Africa. It lies 50 km (31 mi) east of Johannesburg and 72 km (45 mi) southeast fromPretoria. Its name derives from the large number ofsprings in the area, and its estimated population is more than 121,610 in 2011. It is situated at 1,628 m (5,341 ft) above sea level.[2]
During theapartheid-era, the city was racially segregated under theGroup Areas Act.[3] These consisted of middle and upper-income white suburbs around the city centre and the Indian area of Bakerton east of the CBD. A community of black Africans were living in a "black spot" of Springs known as Payneville.[3] The Town Council ordered the creation of a new black township to relieve overcrowding in Payneville.[3] In the 1950s the residents were forcibly removed and relocated to the newly created,KwaThema, southwest of the CBD.[4][3]
Springs has a high concentration ofArt Deco architecture. AfterMiami inFlorida, it has the highest number of small-scale Art Deco buildings in the world.[5][6]
Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014), the first South AfricanNobel Laureate in Literature (1991), was born and raised in Springs.[7]
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The town of Springs, east of Johannesburg, is on theEast Rand, or what is now known as the Metropolitan area ofEkurhuleni, in theGauteng Province. It was founded as a coal and gold mining town in 1904, but its history can be traced back to the second half of the 19th century.
From about 1840 farmers moved into the area and declared farms for themselves, especially after theZuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic, later Transvaal) became an independent republic with the signing of theSand River Convention in 1852. These initial farms were large, but the measurements of the borders were inaccurate and later, when the correct borders of the farms had to be documented, there were several extra or odd pieces of land that did not belong to any farm. These odd pieces of land then became state property. Such an odd piece existed between three neighbouring farms on theWitwatersrand, namely Geduld (meaning 'patience'), De Rietfontein ('the reed fountain') and Brakpan (literally, 'small, brackish lake').
The 685 ha odd piece was given the name 'The Springs' by the land surveyor James Brooks, probably because of all the fountains on the land. Another story is that he wanted to name it after himself, but because his name (Brooks) resembled the Afrikaans word 'broek' (trousers) so closely, he feared that the Afrikaans farmers in the area would mock it.
On 16 September 1884 the official map of The Springs was registered in Pretoria, the Republic's capital. Initially, the land's value was equal to R200. But the discovery of coal and gold and its subsequent mining increased the value considerably.
The coal discovered in The Springs was of a good quality and in 1888 the first contract was signed to mine coal there. Initially mining was on a small scale, but rose when the Great Eastern mine was established. There were a number of corrugated iron houses around the mine and, although there was a few small hotels and general dealers, it was not a town yet. The settlement grew and in 1902 a health committee was appointed to look after the building and location of structures and also the hygiene in the growing township. In 1904 the Grootvlei Proprietary Mines were registered and shafts were sunk. This followed the discovery in 1899 of gold on the farm Geduld and the further discovery of the main reef in 1902.
In April 1904, The Springs was proclaimed a town, called Springs, the health committee replaced by a town council, and it flourished as a mining town. In 1962, Springs produced 10% of the country's gold and 9% of its uranium. However, by the end of the 1960s the last mine in town, the Daggafonteinmyn, (literally: Marijuana fountain mine) was emptied. The town did not die, but instead developed into an industrial centre.
The original 7 km2 farm on which the city of Springs was later to be built,The Springs, was surveyed in 1883. Coal was discovered in the area in 1887 and three years later in 1890–1891, theTransvaal Republic's first railway, the Randtram Line, was built by theNetherlands-South African Railway Company (NZASM) to carry coal from the East Rand coalfields to the gold mines of the Witwatersrand.
Gradually, especially after coal was discovered further east in South Africa inWitbank, the Springs collieries were closed. In the meanwhile, however, gold had also been discovered in the area. A village was laid out in 1904 and in 1908 the first gold mining began. Springs was granted municipal status in 1912. By the late 1930s, there were eight gold mines near Springs, making it the largest single gold-producing area in the world.[8]
Springs is currently one of the industrial centers of theWitwatersrand and also the Eastern Gateway of Gauteng towards Mpumalanga and Northern Kwazulu Natal. Mining has been replaced by manufacturing and engineering industries of economic importance; products of the region include processed metals, chemicals, paper and foodstuffs.
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Although Springs is a highly industrial city, its suburbs are treelike with many parks and also giving some suburban character. The following are the main suburbs of Springs:
Springs is known for its high concentration ofArt Deco architecture, as it is home to the second-highest number of small scaleArt Deco buildings in the world, afterMiami inFlorida.[5][6] These Art Deco buildings were mostly constructed in the CBD during interwar periodInterwar period of the early twentieth century. This was also the greatest growth period in the city.[5] The style of architecture evoked sophistication and wealth, employed to "counteract the incipient provincialism associated with a colonial city."[6] In 1998, Micha Birch, then a member of theNational Monuments Council, approached the municipality about arranging an exhibition of the city's Art Deco architecture.[6]
Art Deco examples include the Central Fire Station, built by the Mr Anifantakis architect 1938 and designed by a Mr Anifantakis.[5] A number are also known for their graphic artwork and letter work, notably seen in the Court Chambers, Renesta House, Palladium Cinema and Nureef House.[5]
In 2023,Barbara Adair publishedIn the Shadow of the Springs I Saw, with photographs and stories of Art Deco buildings in Springs and their inhabitants.[9]
Otherlandmarks include severalmonuments to important figures in the city's development, like Paul Kruger, and the war cemetery where many Coloured soldiers are buried who died during theSecond World War fighting in the Allied Forces. There is also the War Monument at the northern entrance of the Springs CBD, The Old Springs Fire Station, and the now-derelict Dutch Windmill in the former Martiens Kotze (Pioneer) Park. There is a small scale replica of the Voortrekker Monument in the Springs CBD near the library.Springs has an art gallery next to the Springs Library. At the entrance of the Springs Railway station there is an old orange tree planted by the Dutch people whenQueen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands visited the old South African Republic accompanied by the then South African presidentPaul Kruger.
Many theatrical productions are performed at the Springs Civic Theatre, now renamed Ken Gampu Theatre. The Civic Centre was opened in 1974 by the then State President JJ Fouche, at a massive cost of R45 million. With its impressive 1000-seat Main Hall and sprung ballroom floor, it became a cultural centre for top-class international artists such as Neil Diamond and Richard Clayderman. It is a unique building complex in that it rests on hey logs with water underneath.
The Springs Mall, which serves the town, is open from 6:00am – 10:00pm.
The Springs Fire Station is also one of the most attractive Art Deco Buildings as seen from Boksburg Road towards the north-east CBD.
The Mudhook Hall, formerly opposite the Springs Civic Centre, has recently been demolished. That Hall was built in honour of the M.O.T.H. association, which stands for 'Memorable Order of Tin Hats', who were soldiers who fought during World War II.
Springs has a typical sub-tropical climate with four distinct seasons. The summers are hot with afternoon thunder showers in early summers and drier during January and February which are the two hottest months. The winters are very cold with severe frost and very occasional snow, the coldest months being July and August although June is also very cold. August is usually a very windy month continuing into early spring of September with sandstorms and strong winds. Spring is warm to hot with some afternoon showers. Spring usually starts to show during the latter half of August although it is officially springtime from September. The autumns are generally cooler, starting with late rains in the beginning of autumn and getting colder towards winter with the first frost in late autumn. At times the first signs of autumn can be seen in late February. The average highs during the summers are 32 °C (90 °F) although it can go as high as 37 °C (99 °F). A record high of 40 °C (104 °F) has been recorded. Average winter temperatures are around 10 °C (50 °F) and the average lows during the summer months are 15 °C (59 °F) and – 5 °C (41 °F) during the winter months. Temperatures can drop to – 10 °C (50 °F) and a record low of −15 °C (5 °F) has been recorded. The average rainfall in Springs is 450 mm (18 in) per annum.
Springs has a Highveld grassland vegetation, which is the general vegetation type of theHighveld which consists of the southern half of Gauteng, Western Mpumalanga, South Eastern parts of the Limpopo province, most of the Freestate, Northern Eastern Cape and South Eastern parts of Northwest and Eastern Northern Cape.
Springs is mostly grassland with short grass with some smaller succulent plants such as thealoe. Theplough-breaker which is unique on the Highveld with most part of the plant in the soil can also be found. The wetland areas in Springs has an area of 17 km2 (6.6 sq mi) fed by the Blesbokspruit and Lesser Blesbokspruit, with concomitant water plants and trees growing nearby.
The Blesbokspruit Wetland Region in Springs draws over 300 species of birds, including the greatflamingo,Egyptian Goose,barn owl,blue crane,guineafowl,secretary-bird and theostrich. Water mammals such as theotter and lesser otter have been observed in less populated areas. Theblesbok,mongoose, reed buck, read jackal, black wildebeest,springbok,mountain zebra, theporcupine and other mammals are to be found, but usually within reserve areas.
Various species of reptiles such as therinkhals,puffadderbrown house snake,aurora house snake and various lizards, including thegiant girdled lizard, and theAfrican bullfrog are also to be found in wetland areas of Springs.
Up until the late 1990s Springs had a vibrant Jewish community. There were two synagogues, with a total of 300 families. By 2015, most of the community had left for Johannesburg, Cape Town, or further afield like Israel, Australia, the US and the UK.[citation needed] The community's last rabbi was theManchester-born Rabbi Yossi Liberow.[10] The synagogue building, Springs Shul, still stands, but by 2015 operated as anActs Church.
The town's first synagogue,Springs Gates of Hope Synagogue, was consecrated on 3 May 1908. The building was extended in 1933 but by 1949 it became apparent that a new building was needed to accommodate the growing membership. The original synagogue was demolished and the new synagogue, known as theSprings Shul opened in September 1951.[11]
In the 1940s, aReform synagogue,Temple Emeth (laterTemple Emet) was designed by the architect,Harold Le Roith. The synagogue closed in the 1990s.[12]
TheNobel Prize-winning Jewish writer,Nadine Gordimer was raised in Springs. Her father was a member of a local synagogue and attendedYom Kippur services.[13]
There is also a Jewish cemetery in Springs, with over 600 graves. The graves and cemetery are well-maintained and a surrounding wall has been built.[14]
Springs as a city is an economic hub in Ekurhuleni with a diverse economy, ranging from manufacturing, commerce, service, hospitality, mining and service providing companies.
Historically, Springs was known as a mining centre for two major types of minerals (gold and coal). Springs is still one of the gold mining centers in South Africa, which includes Gold One, Modder East Operation, the Geduld Mine and East Geduld Mine and also the Daggafontein and East Daggafontein mines. Besides gold, new coal mines towards the east of the city are being developed.
Springs is one of the industrial centres in Gauteng served by four industrial suburbs, which are New Era, Nuffield, Enstra and Fulcrum with smaller industrial areas at Dersley, suburb of Springs, Daggafontein, Selection Park, Selcourt and Strubenvale. There are a couple of manufacturing companies in Springs. The onlyKelloggs factory in South Africa is situated in Springs. Springs is also home toImpala Platinum's precious and base metal refineries as well asPFG Building Glass Building Glass, the only producer offloat glass on the continent.
Zincor, the onlyzinc producer in Africa, was also located here; its refinery used to produce all South Africa's requirement of this metal and ceased its production operations in 2011 due to various economic reasons. Springs is home toSappi Enstra Mill, the only paper mill plant of Southern Africa, only paper mill plant in the world that is not next to a river,Element Six Ultra High, an industry in industrial diamonds and beverage cans, manufacturing of cans andKimberly-Clark in Enstra manufacturing toilet paper, tissues, serviettes and other products.Afrox Healthcare has a plant in Enstra, Springs specializing in health care products. Then there is alsoLiebherr Group Africa specialising in heavy construction vehicles,McCain Foods packaging plant in Nuffield, Corobrik Plant near Selcourt specialising in bricks andKreepy Krauly swimming pool equipment and regulator system manufacturing plant in Nuffield Springs.Mondi Group also have the cartonboard plant and recycling plant in New Era andSony Ericson phone manufacturing plant also in New Era. There is also the Cobra Water Tap in New Era.
There is also the Angelo Kater Motor Trimmers Conversion plant in Nuffield Springs specialising in vehicle conversions for Taxis, ambulances, police vehicles and other emergency vehicles in Nuffield, Springs. Springs is home to Jachris pty limited, a hose and coupling manufacturer that supplies most of Southern Africas mining houses. Various scrap metal recyclers likeGSMP – Golden Scrap Metal Processors and Jimmy Scrap Metals also find their homes in Springs.
Springs is also a transporting centre with many transporting companies. Some of the more known companies include Van Heerden's Trucking company in Largo, an eastern suburb of Springs and Penta Trucking focusing on cargo transporting from Nuffield, Springs. Welthagen Transport in New Era specialises in bulk and container shipping and the AmalgamatingBulk carrier company from Welgedag, Springs concentrates on bulk transporting.
Springs has a well developed CBD with a couple of highrise office buildings such as the 18-story Checktown building housing the regional office of Telkom for Gauteng and head office for the trading section and Marketing ofTelkom, the 12-story Standard Bank building which has been standing empty for a number of years, the 14-story Nongai building that is undergoing restoration and the 13-story Seedfam Towers and also a 14-story Everest Apartment complex.
There are two major shopping malls in the Springs Downtown serving Springs, The Avenues and Palm Springs, as well as Veranda Shopping Centre and the Third Street Arcade, Seedfam Tower Arcade, Standard Band Arcade and a newer arcade in Third Street too and the Second Street Mall near the Springs Railway Station. There are a number of shopping centres in the suburbs of Springs such as the Selcourt Shopping Center, Strubenvale Shopping Centre, New State Era Shopping Centre, Bakerton Square and also the newer shopping centres like Springsgate and Selcourt Towers and many more shopping centers in Springs and the suburbs. A new regional mall, Springs Mall has opened recently on Wit Road at the N17 onramp. It gives the area 50000 m2 of premium retail shopping.
At Presidents Park there are many horse jumping tournaments that take place. Springs has two golf courses, the Springs Country Club in Selection Park, and the Pollock Park Country Club.
Springs has about 120 parks, the most well-known being Presidents Park, where there is horse jumping, and Murray Park, which has a caravan site next to the Alexander Dam. There is also Frikkie Deysel Park in Petersfield, Butler Park in Geduld, George Sutter Park in Selection Park, and the Park of Dersley in Dersley Park. In Northeastern Springs, theBlesbokspruit Wetland Reserve has a great diversity of birds and plants. Springs also has a Game Reserve near the CBD and the unique Pioneer Park with Dutch characteristics next to the Springs CBD.
There are several schools, ranging from pre-primary to secondary schools, and a tertiary college in Springs.[15]
Combined schools offer primary and secondary, and sometimes pre-primary reception.
Springs is served very well by the media. There are local newspapers that operate from Springs. The Springs Advertiser covers the whole of the greater Springs area, including KwaThema. Then there is also the African Reporter that covers KwaThema, Tsakane in Brakpan and Duduza. Springs is also served by a local radio station, theEast Rand Stereo on a frequency of 93.9 FM Stereo, covering the whole of Ekurhuleni Metro, eastern parts of Johannesburg, Heidelberg, Delmas, Secunda in Mpumalanga, Leandra, and Devon in Eastern Gauteng, with over 300,000 listeners. East Rand Stereo operates from the headquarters in Springs, following some satellite studios that had been opened in Brakpan, Benoni and Boksburg. The video production companyBlack Light Productions was launched in Dersley, a tranquil suburb of Springs. They are specialists and experts incorporate video and video marketing. Since, Black Light Productions has moved in Sandton.
Springs is served by two national highways, namely the N12 to the north and the N17 to the south.[37]
TheN12 is an east–west freeway passing north of Springs, connecting it withWitbank in the east and withJohannesburg in the west.[37] TheN17 is an east–west freeway passing just south of the Springs CBD, connecting it withLeandra,Bethal andErmelo in the east and with Johannesburg in the west.[37]
Springs is also served by four provincial and regional routes, namely the R29, R51, R554 and the R555. TheR29 is an east–west provincial route which connects Springs withBenoni in the north-west and with Leandra in the east.[37] The north–southR51 connects Springs withDaveyton andBapsfontein in the north and withNigel andBalfour in the south.[37] TheR554 regional route connects Springs withAlberton andJohannesburg South in the west[37] and theR555 regional route connects Springs withDelmas,Witbank andMiddelburg in the north-east.[37]
Springs is also a major railway hub. Springs is a subhub for theMetrorail Gauteng with the Springs-Johannesburg trains serving Springs, Brakpan, Benoni,Boksburg,Germiston and Johannesburg. Springs also have the Springs Nigel Line serving Springs and Nigel. Springs is also a major hub forTransnet Freight Rail with goods and cargo carriers trains from the Springs, Welgedag and Daggafontein stations connecting Springs with Johannesburg, Ermelo, Witbank,Nelspruit, Pretoria,Vereeniging,Klerksdorp,Richards Bay,Durban,Bloemfontein,Pietersburg,Lesotho andRustenburg. Coal and wood is transported with petroleum and ammonia and cement. Springs is also served by the container services through rail and road,
Springs is served by the Far East Rand provincial Hospital and three private hospitals, the N17 Hospital, the St Mary Women's Hospital and the Parkland Hospital closer to the Springs CBD. Springs has many clinics, including the White City and KwaThema clinics in KwaThema, Painville clinic and the newly built Springs clinic operated under the Springs Service Delivery as a municipal clinic underEkurhuleni Metropolitan Council. Then there are many private clinics, some of them under Medi Clinic and physiotherapist clinics, occupational therapist clinics and also specialist doctors consultancy offices in Springs and the Medical laboratory at the Parklands Hospital, Springs.
Important and well-known people who were born or lived in Springs include Nobel laureate in LiteratureNadine Gordimer and Olympic swimming gold medallistPenny Heyns.Other famous people who are associated with Springs include:
Communities ofEkurhuleni,Gauteng | ||
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Seat:Germiston | ||
| Places in Ekurhuleni | .svg) | |
| Suburbs of Kempton Park | ||
| Suburbs of Germiston |
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| International | |
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| Geographic | |
| Other | |
