SPRINGS

 Largely an industrial area, known for its wealth of gold and coal. The town boasts the HF Verwoerd Theatre, one of the few live theatres on the Witwatersrand outside the Pretoria/Johannesburg area. The Pam Brink Stadium, home of the Eastern Transvaal Rugby Union, is situated near the civic centre and seats 20 000. The modern Civic Centre is a popular venue for the performing arts.

 Springs, City Centre 1968

SPRINGS PARK Lovely park area built on a converted mine dump. Set out in lawns with a meandering rivulets and cascading waterfalls. Covered picnic spots.
ALEXANDER DAM The home of the Murray Park Yacht Club, but casual sailing is permitted. During Nov. to Feb. yachting is suspended due the weeds. Walks marked around the dam.

GERMISTON

 Mainly an industrial  town and railway junction, site of the largest gold refinery in the world. John Jack, a travelling Scot who decided to try his hand at prospecting, discovered gold with incredible ease on the farm Elandsfontein. With his partner, August Simmer, Jack bought the farm and floated a mining company called Simmer and Jack in 1887, around which the city of Germiston grew.

 President Street

 

The Illuminated Fountain in the shape of a mine headgear, in Johann Rissik Street, is one of the town's well known landmarks. Gosforth Park Race Course is an important racing venue and headquarters for the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of South Africa. The Hermann Immelman Stadium, with its tartan track, is one of the most modern sports complexes in the country, hosting a wide variety of sports.

KEMPTON PARK

 20 km north-east of Johannesburg, a thriving industrial centre. Jan Smuts International Airport, named after Field Marshal the Right Honourable JC Smuts, former Prime Minister and Statesman, is the principal airport in the country. International flights to five continents. The Modderfontein explosives factory, located in the municipality, serves the various gold mines in the vicinity.

CHIP FACTORY TOUR 
Demonstrates the production of potato chips, from peeling to packaging.
BLAAUWPAN DAM
In Bonaero Park. A popular dam among windsurfers. Facilities around the dam as well as a bird sanctuary.

 

Holiday Inn, Kempton Park 1620, South Africa

BREWERY TOUR
A 2-3 hour tour shows the brewing and bottling processes of beer, including a sample of the product.
DRIES NIEMANDT SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL GROUNDS
Facilities for various sports, including a golf course and a country club. A small dam with picnic and barbeque facilities. Rondavels available for special functions.

BOKSBURG

 Within a major gold producing area, this town grew around the gold mining industry.  Also a large coal producing area. Boksburg Lake, created in 1888 as a watering place for cattle, is now a major attraction. It has good sailing and recreational facilities, surrounded by terraces, lawns and trees. Also Artists in the Sun, tribal dancing, pipe band and a miniature train. Cinderella Dam offers yachting and windsurfing. Flea Market held on the first Saturday of each month in front of the Boksburg Civic Centre. Besides a variety of items on sale, numerous food stalls and entertainment available. 

Boksburg from the air. Yachtings on the Cinderella Dam. Boksburg Lake. A view from the Townhall Gardens. Progressive Industries.

Hechter Schultz Museum houses ethnographical collections of Southern Bantu. Also extensive collection of Bushmen beadwork and hunting equipment. North Rand Road (Road was built by Italian prisoners of war): Warehouse Disco; Hypermarket Complex - largest shopping complex in the southern hemisphere;  La Grange Bird Park; Fun Factory - incorporates an ice-rink, ten-pin bowling centre and Daytona 600 Grand Prix track.

BENONI

Gold was discover here in 1887. One of the most pleasant of the industrialised East Rand towns, with many parks, trees and open spaces. A series of lakes in the area offer variety of recreational facilities.

BUNNY PARK Children's park, 18 ha in extent, with a variety of farmyard animals and pets. Well-equipped playground, thatched rondavels, picnic and barbeque facilities.

FLEA MARKET Covered parking area, Civic Centre. Held on the last Saturday of each month. Many colourful stalls with a variety of handcrafts and homemade eats for sale.

Fountain at west entrance. Prince's Avenue. Town Hall.

 

LANE OF FAME Honours present and former residents who have brought publicity to the town, people who have rendered meritorious service and famous visitors. 

SPORT AND RECREATION Kleinfontein Lake is a popular fishing and boating venue. Danie Taljaard Park on the northern shore of the lake offers a well-developed recreation area with braai facilities, playground equipment and a 'lapa' which may be hired. Rynfield Dam, situated at CR Swart Park, is a venue reserved for speedboat and water-ski enthusiasts. Middle and Civic Lakes, close to Civic Centre, offer good angling opportunities. All the lakes have pleasant picnic area.

ROODEPOORT

Once a mining camp, the town is now a rapidly developing industrial centre and residential area close to central Johannesburg. Venue for the biennial international Roodepoort International Eisteddfod of South Africa. Florida Lake is a popular recreational area and includes the Hamerkoop Bird Sanctuary on the western shore. A number of trails lead through the Kloofendal Nature Reserve, 150 ha park with interesting walks and views from koppies over the surrounding area. 

 

 

A busy street in Roodepoort, Transvaal 1970

 

Roodepoort Museum First cultural and historical museum on the West Rand. Illustrates early pioneer life on the Witwatersrand, incorporating a Victorian house and a smithy. The emphasis is on gold discovery and the different types of gold bearing rock found in the area. The original mine workings at Wilgespruit may be visited by arrangement with the museum. 

Roodepoort Civic Theatre Excellent theatre facilities accommodating over 300 people. Presents opera, ballet, drama and musical recitals throughout the year.

VEREENIGING

A well endowed industrial town, rich in coal, forming part of the largest industrial complex in Africa. 58 km from Johannesburg, Vereeniging is also a popular resort situated on the northern banks of the Vaal River, with three smaller rivers within its municipal boundaries. The area is of significance to palaeontologists as it is a known abode of prehistoric man. A number of stone age rock engravings may be seen at Redan on the outskirts of the town.

 

VEREENIGING, Southern Transvaal  Situated on the northern bank of the Vaal River, this town associated with the peace treaty and link up of the railway line between south and north - lives up to its motto "Per pacem ad industriam - Through Peace to Industry".

 

VAAL RIVER AND DAM A popular recreational area for the Witwatersrand. The dam is deep and wide, and free of bilharzia. The willow-lined river banks provide many picnic and camping sites. Excellent water sports, especially water-skiing and motor boating, with good fishing opportunities. Numerous recreational resorts in the area.