Roodepoort

Roodepoort (F 9)

Since the re-organisation of local government in South Africa in 1994, Roodepoort is no longer a separate municipality. Roodepoort, meaning "red valley or pass" in Afrikaans, is mainly a residential area, in parts dominated by light industry and small businesses and of course retail shopping complexes. The name originated from the red soil of the area.

The original settlement dates back to 1884, when Fred Struben discovered the first payable gold in the area at what he called the Confidence Reef, a large rocky outcrop in the centre of Roodepoort. At the time the area was settled by Boer farmers on the nine farms that covered the area. Four of the farms - Roodepoort, Vogelstruisfontein, Paardekraal and Wilgerspruit - were declared public diggings soon.

The city of Roodepoort originated when Jan Bantjies secured the prospecting rights on the farm Roodepoort. Gold was discovered the following year and the farm was declared open for public diggings. Other discoveries followed and as the diggers needed a place to pitch their tents, the farm Roodepoort opened up its land. A shantytown sprang up.

Between 1886 and 1888, four mining towns, Roodepoort, Florida, Hamberg and Maraisburg, were proclaimed. The Goldfields Diggers Committee was formed in 1886 to represent the farmers' interests. This was the first form of local government in the area, which became known as Roodepoort-Maraisburg.

The search for gold spread, and in 1886 the main reef at Langlaagte in Johannesburg was discovered. The gold at Confidence Reef, mostly surface gold in quartz rock, soon ran out, but by then a settled community was established in Roodepoort. In 1903 the Roodepoort-Maraisburg Urban District Board was established, and the first election was held in January 1904. The status of the Board was soon raised to that of a municipality, and in 1963 the Roodepoort-Maraisburg municipality was changed to Roodepoort and city status was granted in 1977 (at which time Maraisburg was dropped from the name). Roodepoort started as a gold-mining center in the West Rand area now became home to many industries – small and large..

There is a monument that commemorates the Jameson Raid of 1895. The city also retains some of its early historic buildings. The Old House on the corner of 3rd Street and Boundary Road consists of an early three-roomed wood and iron structure, which soon acquired a veranda and railing added to become an attractive cottage. The old municipal offices in Berlandina Street, an attractive plaster and stone building now used as a Roodepoort branch library, was declared a national monument in 1985. Another national monument is the old Roodepoort Town School in Rex Street, on the site of the original building erected in 1894.

Made up primarily of the Greater Roodepoort area, this region now contains residential suburbs, agricultural holdings in the north rapidly being gobbled up by townhouse developments and small factories, part of the mining belt in the south, and some areas of commercial activity such as Westgate, Constantia and Laser Park. The Roodepoort region is one of the most attractive residential areas in Johannesburg, offering charming suburbs amid rolling hills, many with superb views of the city to the east and the Magaliesburg to the west. There are plenty of open spaces, golf courses and entertainment areas, as well as what many consider the city's finest park, the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. Although the area is far to the west of the city centre, there are excellent transport routes to the rest of Gauteng.

Roodepoort is conveniently situated for access to Gauteng attractions such as the Cradle of Humankind, Magaliesburg and Pilanesberg. The area is self-contained, offering a wide range of services including ample shopping centres, schools, a museum, major private hospitals – Olivedale, Wilgeheuwel and Flora Clinic - country lodges, trails and restaurants, golf courses and country clubs

Population (estimated):1996: 150,418 2001: 172,668 2005: 225,000

Predominantly residential with supporting urban amenities.

Large tracts of vacant land are available for development, there is some land invasion, leapfrog development and illegal uses.

High residential growth, particularly of low income housing, is being experienced, as well as an average rate of economic growth.

Urban decay and economic decline south of the railway line is being experieced, particularly in and around the CBD areas

A large number of people are being housed in unhealthy circumstances on the Princess AH through "shack farming".

Suburbs in the area (Region 5): Aanwins AH, Allen's Nek, Alsef AH, Amorosa AH, Bergbron, Carenvale, Consolidated Main Reef Gold Mine, Constantia Kloof, Constantia Park, Creswell Park, Davidsonville, Delarey, Discovery, Doornkop AH, Durban Roodepoort Deep, Fleurhof, Floracliffe, Florida, Florida Glen, Florida Hills, Florida Lake, Florida Lakes, Florida North, Florida Park, Georginia, Groblerpark, Groblerpark Ext, Hamberg, Harveston AH, Haylon Hills AH, Helderkruin, Hillfox, Honey Hills, Honeydew, Horison, Horison Park, Horison View, Industria North, Kimbult AH, Kloofendal, Lindhaven, Little Falls, Manufacta, Maraisburg, Matholesville, Northcliff Ext, Ondekkerspark, Panorama, Poortview AH, Princess, Princess AH, Quellerina, Radiokop, Rand Leases Gold Mine, Reefhaven, Rietfontein AH, Robertville, Roodekrans, Roodepoort Central, Roodepoort North, Roodepoort West, Ruimsig AH, Selwyn, South Roodepoort Main Reef Areas Gold Mine, Stormill, Strubensvallei, Tres Jolie AH, Uitsig, Weltevreden Park, White Ridge, Wilfordon, Wilgeheuwel, Wilropark, Witpoortjie.Roodepoort

Bulpin (Discovering South Africa)tells the following story:

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