The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality — the East Rand — had a 2022 census population of 4,066,691 across 1,975.7 km². Germiston is the seat. “Ekurhuleni” is isiZulu/isiNdebele for “place of peace”, chosen at the metro’s formation in 2000.
Ekurhuleni was created from nine former East Rand town councils and their surrounding townships, making it, like Johannesburg and Tshwane, a metro built from many previously separate municipalities rather than a single historic town.
Towns and Townships in Ekurhuleni
Ekurhuleni merges nine former East Rand towns and their townships into one metro:
| Place | Type |
|---|---|
| Benoni | Town |
| Thembisa | Township |
| Boksburg | Town |
| Brakpan | Town |
| Germiston | Town, seat |
| Springs | Town |
| Etwatwa | Township |
| Nigel | Town |
| Alberton | Town |
| Edenvale | Town |
Further suburbs, townships and localities on record:
- Actonville
- Alberton North
- Atlasville
- Bardene
- Bedfordview
- Birchleigh
- Bonaero Park
- Brackenhurst
- Chloorkop
- Clayville
- Dalpark
- Daveyton
- Dawn Park
- Duduza
- Dukathole
- Dunnottar
- Dutywa
- Eastleigh
- Eden Glen
- Elsburg
- Farrarmere
- Geduld
- Isando
- Jet Park
- Katlehong
- Kempton Park
- KwaThema
- Lakefield
- Meadowdale
- Midstream
- Modderfontein
- Northmead
- Olifantsfontein
- Palm Ridge
- Primrose
- Putfontein
- Reiger Park
- Rhodesfield
- Selcourt
- Sunward Park
- Tokoza
- Tsakane
- Vosloorus
- Wadeville
- Wattville
- Winnie Mandela
- Witfield
- Zonkizizwe
Katlehong, Tokoza, Vosloorus and Thembisa together hold much of Ekurhuleni’s population and grew as major townships serving the East Rand’s mining and manufacturing industries under apartheid-era spatial planning. Kempton Park, adjoining O.R. Tambo International Airport, has developed into a business and hospitality node distinct from the older mining towns to its south and east.
Geography
Ekurhuleni sits on the highveld plateau at roughly 1,600 m elevation, its highest point Gillooly’s Ridge at 1,772 m. The area holds a dense network of wetlands and pans, including the Blesbokspruit wetland, an internationally recognised Ramsar site that supports large numbers of waterbirds close to a heavily industrialised metro. It borders the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality to the west, the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to the north, and Mpumalanga municipalities to the east.
Demographics
The metro’s census population grew from 3,178,470 in 2011 to 4,066,691 in 2022, a rise of about 28%. Density stands at roughly 2,060 people per km², concentrated in the string of former East Rand towns and their townships rather than evenly across the metro’s area.
Economy and Local Life
Ekurhuleni is South Africa’s manufacturing heartland, producing about 32% of the country’s manufacturing output, and contributing roughly 11% of national GVA with a metro GDP of about US$82.6 billion. It is also home to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the Rand Refinery for precious metals, and the country’s largest rail freight hub, giving the metro a heavy logistics and aviation base alongside its industrial estates. Springs, Benoni and Boksburg each retain their own industrial and mining heritage, having grown originally as separate East Rand gold-mining towns before consolidation into one metro.
Getting There
The N12, N3 and R21 highways cross the metro, and O.R. Tambo International Airport sits within its boundary at Kempton Park. The Gautrain calls at Rhodesfield and OR Tambo stations, and Metrorail commuter lines connect Germiston, Boksburg and Springs to central Johannesburg.
FAQ
What is the seat of Ekurhuleni? Germiston.
What is the population of Ekurhuleni metro? 4,066,691 at the 2022 census, up from 3,178,470 in 2011, making it Gauteng’s second-largest metro after Johannesburg.
How big is the metro? 1,975.7 km².
Which province is it in? Gauteng; as a metro it has no district municipality above it.
What are the main towns in Ekurhuleni? Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Germiston, Springs, Nigel and Alberton.
What does the name Ekurhuleni mean? IsiZulu/isiNdebele for “place of peace”, adopted when the metro was formed in 2000.
How far is Ekurhuleni from Johannesburg? Germiston lies about 20 km southeast of the Johannesburg city centre.