Gauteng is South Africa’s
wealthiest province. It is built on the fortunes of the gold that has
been mined here for over 100 years. In 1886, on a patch of windswept
grassland, an unemployed miner stumbled upon a stone bearing
traces of gold. This seemingly insignificant event led to the discovery
of the world's richest natural treasure house. Speculators, prospectors,
fortune-seekers and adventurers arrived in the area from all over
the world. Gold rush shantytowns sprang up and were rapidly transformed
into modern concrete cities, Johannesburg became 'The Gold
Capital of the World', and the entire country was catapulted
into an economic boom.
Today Gauteng (meaning ‘gold’ in Sotho) largely consists
of the two principle cities Johannesburg and Pretoria. They are 50 km apart
but these days are practically joined by a ribbon of development and
the N1 freeway. Pretoria is the judicial capital of the country,
whilst Johannesburg is the financial capital - an important hub
for air travel and a major business player in the Southern Hemisphere.
You will probably pass through Johannesburg either entering or
leaving Africa.
Despite its reputation for crime, the city
warrants a couple of days of exploration. Its reputation
is not unfounded – Gauteng cars carry number-plates beginning
with GP (Gauteng Province), affectionately dubbed ‘Gangsters
Paradise’ - but with common sense the city can be explored safely.
There are some interesting and informative tours on offer to the
notorious township Soweto or the excellent Apartheid Museum. At night
Jo’burg, Joeys, or Jozi, heats up. There’s a vibrant
restaurant, live music and clubbing scene and the shopping in the
giant ‘shoppertainment' malls is definitely worth making
time for.
By contrast Pretoria is more placid and lacks the vibe of
Johannesburg. Numbers of Voortrekkers arrived in the region in the
1850s. An air of history pervades much of central Pretoria, especially
Church Square around which the city grew. The square was the
site of the first church, the first markets and the first shops. Here
you’ll find the old monuments, government buildings and courthouses
associated with the Apartheid era. If this is part of the South African
history you want to explore, then Pretoria’s historic buildings
can be visited on a day tour. Pretoria has over a hundred parks and
is renowned for its colourful gardens, shrubs and trees; particularly
beautiful in spring when jacarandas envelop the avenues in mauve.
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