The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is Gauteng’s largest metro by area, with a 2022 census population of 4,040,315 across 6,297.8 km². Pretoria is the seat and South Africa’s administrative capital. The metro takes its name from the Tshwane River, and absorbed a large rural hinterland — including former towns such as Bronkhorstspruit, Cullinan and Hammanskraal — when it was expanded in the 2000 and 2011 municipal re-demarcations.
Towns and Suburbs in Tshwane
Tshwane spans Pretoria’s urban core plus large northern and eastern towns absorbed at various mergers:
| Place | Type |
|---|---|
| Pretoria | City centre, seat |
| Soshanguve | Township |
| Centurion | Town |
| Mabopane | Township |
| Ekangala | Township |
| Bronkhorstspruit | Town |
| Cullinan | Town |
| Rethabiseng | Township |
| Rayton | Town |
| Thembisile | Township |
Further towns, suburbs and localities on record:
- Akasia
- Atteridgeville
- Bon Accord
- Brooklyn
- Bruma
- Doornpoort
- Eersterust
- Ga-Rankuwa
- Garsfontein
- Hammanskraal
- Hatfield
- Hercules
- Highveld
- Irene
- Kameelkraal
- Kilner Park
- Lynnwood
- Mamelodi
- Menlyn
- Montana
- Moot
- Muckleneuk
- Newlands
- Olievenhoutbosch
- Onderstepoort
- Onverwacht
- Pretoria North
- Pretoria West
- Rooihuiskraal
- Silverton
- Sinoville
- Sunnyside
- Valhalla
- Waterkloof
- Wierda Park
- Winterveldt
- Wonderboom
- Zithobeni
- Zwartkop
Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa and Mabopane together hold much of Tshwane’s population, developed under apartheid-era spatial planning as townships around Pretoria’s edges. Centurion, between Pretoria and Johannesburg, has grown into a major business and residential node in its own right, distinct from the older civil-service core around the Union Buildings and government precinct.
Geography
Tshwane occupies the northern edge of the Highveld, with the Magaliesberg range crossing its western reaches and the Tswaing meteorite crater near Soshanguve in the north. It borders the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to the south, and North West and Mpumalanga municipalities to the west, north and east.
Demographics
The metro’s census population rose from 2,921,488 in 2011 to 4,040,315 in 2022, growth of about 38% — among the fastest of any Gauteng metro over that period, driven by expansion in the northern corridor around Soshanguve and Mabopane. Despite its huge land area, Tshwane’s density averages only around 640 people per km², far below Johannesburg or Ekurhuleni, reflecting the large rural and semi-rural stretches in its east and north.
Economy and Local Life
Tshwane’s economy centres on public administration, defence and higher education: national government departments, three universities (Tshwane University of Technology, University of South Africa, University of Pretoria) and the CSIR research council are based in Pretoria. Automotive manufacturing, notably at Rosslyn, and agriculture around Bronkhorstspruit add to the base. Cullinan, in the metro’s east, is known internationally for its diamond mine, source of the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Government employment, in particular, gives Tshwane a more stable economic base than the manufacturing-dependent metros to its south.
Getting There
The N1, N4 and N14 highways cross the metro, linking Pretoria to Johannesburg, Mpumalanga and North West. O.R. Tambo International Airport lies in neighbouring Ekurhuleni; the Gautrain connects Pretoria’s Hatfield and Centurion stations to Sandton and OR Tambo.
FAQ
What is the seat of the City of Tshwane? Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.
What is the population of Tshwane metro? 4,040,315 at the 2022 census, up from 2,921,488 in 2011, Gauteng’s third-largest metro population after Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
How big is the metro? 6,297.8 km², Gauteng’s largest by area.
Which province is it in? Gauteng; as a metro it has no district municipality above it.
What are the main towns besides Pretoria? Soshanguve, Centurion, Mabopane, Bronkhorstspruit and Cullinan.
What is Cullinan known for? Its diamond mine, source of the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.
How far is Tshwane from Johannesburg? Pretoria’s city centre lies about 55 km north of the Johannesburg city centre via the N1.