Emfuleni Local Municipality
Encyclopedia
The Emfuleni Local Municipality is one of three local municipalities
comprising the
Sedibeng District
in Gauteng
, South Africa
. It is the westernmost local municipality in the
District, and covers an area of 987 km².
Emfuleni shares boundaries with Metsimaholo Local Municipality
in the Free State
to the south, Midvaal Local Municipality
to the east, the
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
to the north and Westonaria
and
Potchefstroom Local Municipalities to the west.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality is rich in history: it encapsulates the Anglo-Boer War, the
Sharpeville Massacre
of 1960, and the 1996 signing of the Constitution of South Africa
in Sharpeville
.
Emfuleni is a largely urbanised municipality, with high population concentrations and
density compared to other municipalities making up the Sedibeng District. In fact, the
municipality houses around 80% of the district's total population.
The municipality is strategically located with access to a well-maintained road network
– the N1 national route.
The Vaal River
forms the southern boundary of the municipality;
its strategic location affords it many opportunities for tourism and other forms of
economic development.
Emfuleni has two main town centres: Vereeniging and
Vanderbijlpark. Sasolburg
is 10 kilometers to the south,
across the provincial boundary. The municipality forms the heartland of what was formerly known
as the Vaal Triangle
, renowned for its contribution to the iron and steel industry in
South Africa. It also contains six large townships (Evaton
,
Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Boipatong
, Bophelong
and Tshepiso), which currently lack
the facilities generally associated with towns of their size. There are a number of
small settlements, mostly within approximately six kilometers of the above towns:
Bonanne, Steelpark, Duncanville, Unitas Park, Sonland Park, Waldrift, Rust-ter-
Vaal, Roshnee and Debonair Park. The area also comprises a number of large residential areas, all of which require
considerable investment in infrastructure and environment upgrading.
Local municipality (South Africa)
In South Africa, a local municipality or Category B municipality is a type of municipality that serves as the third, and most local, tier of local government...
comprising the
Sedibeng District
Sedibeng District Municipality
Sedibeng is one of the districts of the Gauteng province of South Africa. The administrative seat of Sedibeng is Vereeniging. The most widely spoken language among its 794,605 inhabitants is Sesotho .-Geographic location:...
in Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is the westernmost local municipality in the
District, and covers an area of 987 km².
Emfuleni shares boundaries with Metsimaholo Local Municipality
Metsimaholo Local Municipality
Metsimaholo Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Fezile Dabi District of the Free State in South Africa. "Metsimaholo" means "big water" in Sesotho....
in the Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
to the south, Midvaal Local Municipality
Midvaal Local Municipality
Midvaal Local Municipality is an administrative area in the Sedibeng District of Gauteng in South Africa. The name due to its geographical location: Midvaal lies halfway between Johannesburg/East Rand and the Vaal/Vereeniging area....
to the east, the
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality that manages the local governance of Johannesburg, South Africa...
to the north and Westonaria
Westonaria Local Municipality
Westonaria Local Municipality is a local municipality in West Rand District Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa.The mining industry represents the largest employment sector in the municipality. The unemployment rate is approximately 30%. In 2007, 34% of households had access to piped water inside...
and
Potchefstroom Local Municipalities to the west.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality is rich in history: it encapsulates the Anglo-Boer War, the
Sharpeville Massacre
Sharpeville massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal . After a day of demonstrations, at which a crowd of black protesters far outnumbered the police, the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69...
of 1960, and the 1996 signing of the Constitution of South Africa
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was...
in Sharpeville
Sharpeville, Gauteng
Sharpeville is a township situated between two large industrial cities of Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging in southern Gauteng, South Africa...
.
Emfuleni is a largely urbanised municipality, with high population concentrations and
density compared to other municipalities making up the Sedibeng District. In fact, the
municipality houses around 80% of the district's total population.
The municipality is strategically located with access to a well-maintained road network
– the N1 national route.
The Vaal River
Vaal River
The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. The river has its source in the Drakensberg mountains in Mpumalanga, east of Johannesburg and about 30 km north of Ermelo and only about 240 km from the Indian Ocean. It then flows westwards to its conjunction...
forms the southern boundary of the municipality;
its strategic location affords it many opportunities for tourism and other forms of
economic development.
Emfuleni has two main town centres: Vereeniging and
Vanderbijlpark. Sasolburg
Sasolburg
Sasolburg is a large industrial town in the far north of the Free State province of South Africa. Sasolburg is further sub-divided into three areas: Sasolburg proper, Vaalpark and Zamdela...
is 10 kilometers to the south,
across the provincial boundary. The municipality forms the heartland of what was formerly known
as the Vaal Triangle
Vaal Triangle
The Vaal Triangle is a triangular area of land formed by Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg - together they comprise a substantial urban complex in South Africa...
, renowned for its contribution to the iron and steel industry in
South Africa. It also contains six large townships (Evaton
Evaton
Evaton is a township north of Sebokeng in the Emfuleni region of Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1904. Like other townships in the area, Evaton was affected by the violent unrest which erupted in 1984 and by 1985 a state of emergency was imposed....
,
Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Boipatong
Boipatong
Boipatong is a township near Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1955 to house black residents who worked in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging.Boipatong means "the place of hiding" in the South Sotho language...
, Bophelong
Bophelong, Gauteng
Bophelong is a township near Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1955 to house black residents who worked in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging.The location has noe been extended by another location right next to it called Mavhango....
and Tshepiso), which currently lack
the facilities generally associated with towns of their size. There are a number of
small settlements, mostly within approximately six kilometers of the above towns:
Bonanne, Steelpark, Duncanville, Unitas Park, Sonland Park, Waldrift, Rust-ter-
Vaal, Roshnee and Debonair Park. The area also comprises a number of large residential areas, all of which require
considerable investment in infrastructure and environment upgrading.
Towns
- Vereeniging
- Vanderbijlpark
- Bonanne
- Debonair Park
- Duncanville
- EvatonEvatonEvaton is a township north of Sebokeng in the Emfuleni region of Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1904. Like other townships in the area, Evaton was affected by the violent unrest which erupted in 1984 and by 1985 a state of emergency was imposed....
- Roshnee
- Rust-ter-Vaal
- Sebokeng
- Sharpeville
- Sonland Park
- Steelpark
- BoipatongBoipatongBoipatong is a township near Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1955 to house black residents who worked in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging.Boipatong means "the place of hiding" in the South Sotho language...
- BophelongBophelong, GautengBophelong is a township near Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa. It was established in 1955 to house black residents who worked in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging.The location has noe been extended by another location right next to it called Mavhango....
- Tshepiso
- Unitas Park
- Waldrift