The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, located in South Africa’s Gauteng region, is a vibrant and dynamic city that embodies the country’s rich past and continuous progress.
Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest metropolis, serves as the country’s economic, cultural, and financial lifeblood.
Historically, Johannesburg arose from the late-nineteenth-century Witwatersrand Gold Rush, which drew fortune seekers and settlers from all over the world.
The discovery of gold shaped the city’s future, converting it from a little mining village to a busy metropolis.
Today, the city’s architecture and the unique cultural tapestry that characterizes its neighborhoods bear witness to this history.
Johannesburg’s skyline reflects the city’s economic importance. The city is a global financial center as well as an important player in the African economy.
It is home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), one of the world’s largest stock markets.
The Central Business District (CBD) is a hive of business headquarters, financial institutions, and government buildings.
Apart from its economic strength, Johannesburg is a city that values cultural variety. The city thrives on its cosmopolitan identity, with a diverse population of races, languages, and cultures.
Newtown and Maboneng have become cultural centers, with art galleries, theaters, and trendy cafes contributing to the city’s thriving arts and entertainment scene.
Soweto, a township that played an important role in the anti-apartheid fight, is one of Johannesburg’s most recognizable features.
Soweto, an abbreviation for South Western Townships, is a bustling community that has produced significant figures such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.
In Soweto, the Hector Pieterson Museum recalls the 1976 Soweto Uprising and serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the city’s turbulent past.
| Population
 (2011)
|
|
|---|---|
|  • Total | 4,434,827 |
|  • Density | 2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi) |
The city’s infrastructure has evolved significantly over time, with modern conveniences coexisting with historical landmarks.
The Apartheid Museum, located near the Gold Reef City theme park, takes an in-depth look at the country’s apartheid history.
Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, which features a statue of the renowned leader, serves as a symbol of post-apartheid peace.
Joburgers, or Johannesburg inhabitants, are noted for their tenacity and entrepreneurial drive.
The city’s townships, which were formerly disadvantaged, have transformed into incubators for creativity and corporate innovation.
Informal markets and street sellers add to the city’s distinct character by providing a varied range of goods and services.
However, Johannesburg, like many other major cities, confronts issues such as urban sprawl, transportation congestion, and social inequities.
Efforts are ongoing to solve these concerns and build a more inclusive and sustainable city, with urban regeneration projects and community development initiatives playing a critical role.
The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places (unchanged from the 2001 census):
| Place | Code | Population | Area (km2) | Most spoken languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | 798014 | 179,624 | 6.91 | Zulu 26%, Pedi 23%, Tsonga 11%, Xhosa 9%, Tswana 9%, Sotho 7%, Venda 4% |
| Chartwell | 798011 | 1,728 | 9.07 | English 50%, Afrikaans 10%, Zulu 9%, foreign languages 7%, Ndebele 7% |
| City of Johannesburg (non-urban) | 798002 | 9,933 | 289.84 | English 15%, Zulu 14%, Sotho 12%, Afrikaans 11%, Tswana 10%, Xhosa 8%, Pedi 8%, foreign languages 5%, Tsonga 4%, Venda 4% |
| Dainfern | 798012 | 6,601 | 4.08 | English 65%, foreign languages 15%, Afrikaans 4%, Zulu 4% |
| Diepsloot | 798003 | 138,329 | 12.00 | Pedi 22%, Zulu 19%, Tsonga 10%, Ndebele 10%, Venda 9%, Tswana 7%, Xhosa 5%, foreign languages 4%, Sotho 4% |
| Drie Ziek | 798035 | 35,622 | 7.53 | Zulu 42%, Sotho 28%, Xhosa 8%, Tsonga 7% |
| Ebony Park | 798007 | 22,309 | 1.63 | Pedi 29%, Zulu 23%, Tswana 7%, Tsonga 7%, Xhosa 6%, Sotho 6%, Ndebele 4%, English 4% |
| Ennerdale | 798033 | 71,815 | 21.33 | Afrikaans 19%, English 18%, Zulu 17%, Sotho 16%, Xhosa 8%, Tsonga 5%, Tswana 5% |
| Farmall | 798017 | 1,051 | 5.01 | English 47%, Afrikaans 12%, foreign languages 9%, Zulu 7%, Pedi 5%, Tswana 4%, Ndebele 4% |
| Itsoseng | 798021 | 5,243 | 0.58 | Pedi 22%, Venda 15%, Tswana 13%, Zulu 11%, Ndebele 7%, Sotho 7%, Tsonga 7%, English 4%, foreign languages 4%, Xhosa 4% |
| Ivory Park | 798006 | 184,383 | 9.21 | Pedi 23%, Tsonga 22%, Zulu 21%, Xhosa 7%, foreign languages 5%, Ndebele 5%, Sotho 4% |
| Johannesburg | 798015 | 957,441 | 334.81 | English 31%, Zulu 19%, Afrikaans 12%, foreign languages 7%, Xhosa 5%, Ndebele 4%, Sotho 4%, Pedi 4%, Tswana 4%, Tsonga 3%, Venda 1% |
| Kaalfontein | 798005 | 46,147 | 4.96 | Pedi 30%, Zulu 21%, Tsonga 10%, Xhosa 8%, foreign languages 5%, Sotho 5%, Ndebele 5%, Tswana 4% |
| Kagiso | 798024 | 5,182 | 0.57 | Tswana 33%, Zulu 17%, Xhosa 11%, Sotho 9%, Tsonga 8%, Venda 5%, Pedi 4% |
| Kanana Park | 798039 | 21,005 | 6.82 | Zulu 35%, Xhosa 22%, Sotho 20%, Tsonga 5% |
| Lakeside | 798037 | 23,503 | 3.78 | Sotho 48%, Zulu 30%, Xhosa 8% |
| Lanseria | 798019 | 4,788 | 1.83 | Pedi 19%, Tswana 15%, Zulu 15%, Tsonga 10%, Venda 8%, English 7%, Sotho 6%, Xhosa 6%, Ndebele 5% |
| Lawley | 798038 | 33,136 | 6.09 | Zulu 28%, Sotho 20%, Tsonga 13%, Xhosa 8%, English 5%, Tswana 5%, Pedi 4%, Venda 4%, Afrikaans 4% |
| Lehae | 798029 | 13,380 | 3.50 | Zulu 42%, Sotho 13%, Tsonga 12%, Xhosa 10%, Tswana 5% |
| Lenasia | 798028 | 89,714 | 20.28 | English 55%, Zulu 8%, Tswana 8%, Sotho 6%, Xhosa 4%, foreign languages 4%, Afrikaans 4% |
| Lenasia South | 798032 | 37,110 | 13.98 | English 53%, Zulu 12%, Sotho 8%, Xhosa 5%, Tswana 5% |
| Lucky 7 | 798020 | 0 | 0.11 | n. a. |
| Malatjie | 798001 | 2,321 | 0.18 | Pedi 23%, Tswana 13%, Zulu 12%, Venda 12%, Ndebele 9%, Tsonga 7%, Sotho 6%, foreign languages 5%, Xhosa 4% |
| Mayibuye | 798009 | 22,178 | 1.16 | Pedi 24%, Zulu 18%, Xhosa 15%, Tsonga 9%, Ndebele 9%, foreign languages 7%, Sotho 4% |
| Midrand | 798004 | 87,387 | 152.87 | English 50%, Zulu 10%, Afrikaans 6%, foreign languages 5%, Xhosa 5%, Tswana 5%, Pedi 4%, Sotho 4% |
| Millgate Farm | 798018 | 172 | 0.88 | n. a. |
| Orange Farm | 798034 | 76,767 | 12.16 | Zulu 44%, Sotho 29%, Xhosa 9%, Tsonga 4% |
| Poortjie | 798040 | 11,153 | 2.43 | Sotho 38%, Zulu 19%, Xhosa 18%, Tsonga 9%, Tswana 5% |
| Rabie Ridge | 798008 | 41,204 | 3.33 | Pedi 32%, Zulu 16%, Tsonga 9%, Afrikaans 8%, Xhosa 8%, Sotho 5%, Tswana 4%, Ndebele 4% |
| Randburg | 798016 | 337,053 | 167.98 | English 52%, Afrikaans 17%, Zulu 6%, foreign languages 5%, Tswana 4% |
| Randfontein | 798027 | 0 | 9.19 | n. a. |
| Rietfontein | 798023 | 196 | 2.17 | n. a. |
| Roodepoort | 798022 | 326,416 | 161.50 | English 29%, Afrikaans 23%, Zulu 9%, Tswana 8%, Pedi 4%, Xhosa 4%, Sotho 4%, foreign languages 3%, Venda 3% |
| Sandton | 798013 | 222,415 | 143.54 | English 63%, Afrikaans 7%, Zulu 6%, foreign languages 6% |
| Soweto | 798026 | 1,271,628 | 200.03 | Zulu 37%, Sotho 15%, Tswana 12%, Tsonga 8%, Pedi 5%, Venda 4%, English 2%, Ndebele 1%, Afrikaans 1%, foreign languages 1% |
| Stretford | 798036 | 61,141 | 7.38 | Zulu 39%, Sotho 34%, Xhosa 9%, Tsonga 4% |
| Tshepisong | 798025 | 53,260 | 6.56 | Zulu 26%, Tswana 22%, Xhosa 12%, Tsonga 12%, Sotho 9%, Pedi 5%, Venda 5% |
| Vlakfontein | 798031 | 27,291 | 4.63 | Zulu 38%, Sotho 17%, Tsonga 10%, Xhosa 9%, Tswana 6%, Pedi 4% |
| Zakariyya Park | 798030 | 6,200 | 1.96 | English 34%, Zulu 20%, Sotho 9%, Tswana 6%, Xhosa 6%, Tsonga 5%, foreign languages 4% |
| Zevenfontein | 798010 | 0 | 3.11 | n. a. |
Finally, the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is a diverse city that embodies South Africa’s past, present, and future.
Johannesburg has evolved from its humble beginnings as a mining town to its current stature as a worldwide economic player while keeping its rich cultural legacy.
As the city strives for prosperity and inclusivity, it remains a symbol of African resilience and possibility.