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About Johannesburg
Johannesburg (often referred to as Jo'burg or Jozi) is South Africa's most intellectually and culturally vibrant city with a rich human history and culture. Located in Guateng Province, near South Africa's capital of Twshwane (also known as Pretoria), Johannesburg is also the capital of South Africa's flourishing NGO sector.
The area of Johannesburg began as unassuming farm land in an area known as The Witwatersrand, named after the white water springs that coursed the land which is layered by gold underneath. Johannesburg has always attracted diverse people and been a place of extremes, often serving as a hotbed of economic, social, and political transformation.
Research results measuring Human Development Index (HDI) show Johannesburg as the most prosperous place to live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Johannesburg also rates just over 70% on the City Development Index (CDI) – a measure of general living standards – compared with other South African cities. At a population of around 3 million people, Johannesburg is home to 7% of South Africa's total population. It is also a young city, with 50% of the population under the age of 35.
Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa's nine provinces yet it is the most densely populated province with 8.8 million people (20% of the national total). The region's history dates back to 218,000 BC when a meteorite created the Tswaing crater north of Tshwane (Pretoria). It is the most multi-cultural, most industrialized province, the economic hub of South Africa and also a gateway to all of Africa. Gauteng receives 50% of all tourists to South Africa. The three main cities in Gauteng are Johannesburg (home to the Constitutional Court), Tshwane (the administrative capital of South Africa) and Soweto (home to the Hector Pieterson Museum).
Johannesburg and Tshwane host some of the world’s finest zoological gardens, making South Africa a respected world leader in the breeding and relocation of endangered species. A 2.2 million-year-old cave, the Wonder Cave, is situated within the Cradle of Humankind (a World Heritage Site owned by Wits University). The cavern contains spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, and underground pools.
Gauteng’s urban bias makes it easy for travelers to get around by almost any mode of transport. Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) International Airport is only 24 km from the city and is the hub of an extensive air network linking all the major cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The province’s extensive road system connects the province to all major cities in South Africa. Johannesburg is also the hub of the continent’s rail network, with regular services to Harare, Maputo, and the main cities in South Africa.
The following websites provide helpful information on living in Johannesburg:
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