> Gauteng(pronounced[链接][[链接]];[链接]IPA:[链接]) is a[链接]of[链接]. It was formed from part of the old[链接]after South Africa's first all-race elections on[链接][链接]. It was initially named Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereen
Situated in the heart of the[链接], Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa, with only 1.4% of the land area, but it is highly urbanised and has a population of 8,837,178 ([链接][链接]), the second-largest after[链接]. 2005 estimates as put forward by the CSIR Gauteng Spatial Development Perspective suggest, however, that Gauteng has overtaken KwaZulu Natal to become the most populous province in South Africa, with a total of 9.5 million people living there, growing at around 100,000 people every year. KwaZulu Natal's population has been estimated at 9.3 million people.
Contents[[链接]] |
[[链接]]Etymology
The name Gauteng comes from the[链接]word meaningPlace of Gold, the historical Sesotho name for[链接]and surrounding areas referring to the thriving gold industry in the province following the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg. The Sesotho word is in turn a locative derived from the[链接]"goud" (gold) plus the locative suffix "-ng." When properly pronounced, the first letter of the name Gauteng is a[链接], pronounced similarly to the "ch" in the[链接]"achtung" or Scottish "loch." This pronunciation is natural in both the Sesotho and Afrikaans languages.
[[链接]]History
Gauteng, formerly known as Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereen
[[链接]]Law and Government
The current premier, since 1999, is[链接]of the[链接].
[[链接]]Geography
Gauteng's southern border is the[链接], which separates it from the[链接]. It also borders on[链接]to the west,[链接]to the north, and[链接]to the east. Gauteng is the only landlocked province of South Africa without a foreign border. Most of Gauteng is on the[链接], a high-altitude grassland. Between[链接]and[链接]there are low parallel ridges and undulating hills, some part of the[链接]Mountains and the[链接]. The north of the province is more[链接], due to its lower altitude and is mostly dry[链接]habitat.
The climate is mostly influenced by altitude. Even though the province is at a[链接]latitude, the climate is comparatively cooler, especially in[链接], at 1,700m above sea level ([链接]is at 1,330m). Most precipitation occurs as brief afternoon thunderstorms, however relative humidity never becomes uncomfortable. Winters are crisp and dry with frost occurring often in the southern areas. Snow is very rare, but has occurred on some occasions in the[链接]metropolitan area.
- [链接]averages: January maximum: 26 °C (min: 15 °C), June maximum: 16 °C (min: 4 °C), annual precipitation: 713 mm
- [链接]averages: January maximum: 29 °C (min: 18 °C), June maximum: 19 °C (min: 5 °C), annual precipitation: 674 mm
[[链接]]Municipalities
Gauteng Province is divided into 3 metropolitan[链接], and 3 district municipalities (which are further divided into 8 local municipalities).[链接]
[[链接]]Districts
[[链接]]Local municipalities
See also:[链接]
[[链接]]Demographics
Gauteng Province is home to 8.8 million people (2001 South African National Census), almost 20% of the total South African population. Gauteng Province is also the fastest growing province, experiencing a population growth of over 20% between the[链接]and 2001 censuses, thus Gauteng is likely to soon have the highest population of any province in South Africa.
As of the[链接]of 2001, there are 8,837,172 people and 2,651,243 households residing in Gauteng. The[链接]is 519.53/
22.1% of all households are made up of individuals. The average household size is 3.33.
The province's age distribution was 23.6% under the age of 15, 19.6% from 15 to 24, 37.9% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 27 years. For every 100 females there are 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.3 males.
In the province, 14.4% of residents speak[链接]at home, 12.5% speak[链接], 1.9% speak[链接], 7.6% speak[链接], 21.5% speak[链接], 10.7% speak[链接], 13.1% speak[链接], 8.4% speak[链接], 1.4% speak[链接], 1.7% speak[链接], and 5.7% speak[链接]. 1.0% of the population speaks a non-official language at home.
76.0% of residents are[链接], 18.4% have[链接], 1.7% are[链接], 0.5% are[链接], and 0.8% are[链接]. 2.6% have other or undetermined beliefs.
8.4% of residents aged 20 and over have received no schooling, 11.2% have had some[链接], 5.5% have completed only primary school, 34.3% have had some[链接]education, 28.0% have finished only high school, and 12.6% have an education higher than the high school level. Overall, 40.6% of residents have completed high school.
56.1% of housing units have a[链接]and/
25.8% of the population aged 15-65 is unemployed. Of the unemployed persons, 92.4% are Black, 3.3% are Coloured, 0.8% are Indian/
The median annual income of working adults aged 15-65 is R 23 539 ($3,483). Males have a median annual income of R 24 977 ($3,696) versus R 20 838 ($3,083) for females. The median annual income by race is R 15 399 ($2,279) for Blacks, R 33 448 ($4,949) for Coloureds, R 57 036 ($8,440) for Indians/
- No income 2.0%
- R 12 – R 4,800 ($2 - $721) 6.4%
- R 4,812 – R 9,600 ($723 - $1,443) 13.0%
- R 9,612 – R 19,200 ($1,445 – $2,886) 24.0%
- R 19,212 – R 38,400 ($2,888 - $5,772) 20.4%
- R 38,412 – R 76,800 ($5,774 - $11,543) 15.8%
- R 76,812 – R 153,600 ($11,545 - $23,087) 10.4%
- R 153,612 – R 307,200 ($23,089 - $46,174) 5.0%
- R 307,212 – R 614,400 ($46,176 - $92,348) 1.8%
- R 614,412 or more ($92,350+) 1.1%
[[链接]]Economy
Gauteng is considered the[链接]hub of South Africa and contributes heavily in the financial, manufacturing, transport, technology and[链接]sectors, amongst others. It also plays host to a large number of overseas companies requiring a commercial base in and gateway to Africa.
Although Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa's nine provinces - it covers only 1.4% of the country's total land area - it contributes 33.9% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Indeed Gauteng generates 10% of the GDP of the entire African continent[链接].
[[链接]]Future growth
Gauteng is growing rapidly, due to mass urbanisation that is a feature of many developing countries. According to the State of the Cities Report, the urban portion of Gauteng - comprised primarily of the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni (the East Rand) and Tshwane (greater Pretoria) - will be a polycentric urban region with a projected population of some 14.6 million people by 2015, making it one of the largest cities in the world. AIDS may however negate this projection.
This rapid growth has brought with it both opportunities and challenges. As a global focal point, with access to the Southern African hinterland, Gauteng has the ability to link the world to a population approximately the same size as the United States. It is fast becoming to sub-Saharan Africa what the Eastern Seaboard megalopolis is to America. But this also presents some formidable obstacles, most notably the ability to provide access to basic amenities such as electricity and potable water. Transport is also a major problem, and Johannesburg, as the core of Gauteng, is beginning to experience the heavy traffic problems of cities such as Los Angeles and Bangkok. The[链接]Rapid Rail Link is an attempt to remedy this problem, by providing efficient high-speed rail between[链接],[链接],[链接]and[链接]; completion due 2010.
Government inability to deal with corruption adds to the problem of a region already bursting at the seams with illegal immigrants. These refugees from the rest of Africa flood into the economic hub of Southern Africa seeking a better life. They bring with them the legacies of the countries they are fleeing. It remains to be seen if this region can continue to play saviour to the people of other African states, without negatively being affected.
[[链接]]Education
Gauteng is a centre of learning in South Africa, and it has many universities and other schools of higher learning.
- [链接]
- [链接](Formed after[链接],[链接], and[链接]merged)
- [链接](Formed after[链接], some Johannesburg campuses of[链接]and[链接]merged)
- [链接]
- [链接]: Also known as UNISA and incorporating the[链接]and the distance learning unit of[链接]
- [链接]: Previously known as Vaal Triangle Technikon
- [链接]
- [链接]
Gauteng Department of Education has embarked on a project to provide fully functional ICT laboratories to all public schools in Gauteng. The name of this project is Gauteng OnLine
[[链接]]Conservation
Although Gauteng province is dominated by the urban areas of Johannesburg and Pretoria, it has some beautiful nature reserves:
[[链接]]Sport and recreation
The National sport of South Africa is best considered soccer as it very popular in both white and black communities.[链接], or more accurately[链接], is also a popular sport in South Africa, and in Gauteng in particular. Two rugby teams from Gauteng participate in the Southern Hemisphere[链接]championship: the[链接]-based[链接], and the[链接]-based[链接](previously the Cats). Three Gauteng-based teams play in the country's domestic competition, the[链接]: the[链接]from Pretoria, the[链接]from Johannesburg and the[链接]from the[链接]. Other popular sports include Cricket and Tennis.
Walking and Hiking are also popular in Gauteng. But high crime rates and urban neglect have made it difficult and often dangerous to walk in the parks and greenbelts. For more info on walking in Gauteng, have a look at[链接]homepage - it has photos, maps and more info on getting people safely back into the province's parks.
There are some interesting tourist attractions too: the[链接]caves, and the[链接]are in the[链接][链接].
[链接]is also popular in South Africa. Several teams from Gauteng play in the[链接](PSL), including[链接]and[链接].
