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Gauteng

Visit Gauteng's Gallery

There’s a lot being said about Gauteng these days. Some of it is decidedly bad – the poverty, the corruption and perhaps the crazy way we drive. But it’s an intensive living experience that makes millionaires and dreamers of others, because its all possible here.

Nowadays, Africa and the world at large realize that if you want to do business on this continent, you start with Gauteng. If you want to go looking for signs of an African Renaissance, then buy a ticket to Johannesburg International Airport. So when you see someone driving with GP plates, you’re expected to say “ LOOK GATEWAY PROVINCE”

First and foremost, Gauteng is a business destination. Deal makers from all over the world meet every week at sophisticated “indaba’ venues like the Sandton Convention Centre, Gallager estate and the Expo Centre, which boasts more than 57 000 metres of conference and banqueting facilities. Half of all the meetings, conferences and events in South Africa are held in Gauteng.

Johannesburg International has in recent times been upgraded into a First World Airport – a quantum leap from its past status as one of the most frustrating national entry points you could ever encounter.

Business Against Crime organization, working with local police, has installed R4-million worth of eye-in-the-sky cameras to keep surveillance on the streets of the CBD. By all accounts, the 24-hour hi-tech crime prevention initiative is working wonders, and similar monitoring units are now being installed all over the country.

Gauteng is where you will come across a Hindu wedding, a Zulu celebration, an Afrikaaner commemoration, a British occasion, an Irish party, a German beer fest or a Hungarian feast – all within two city blocks of each other, at the same time. The rich cultural mix of South Africa is evident in this province, where the bottom line is business and pleasure takes many forms.

In 1995 rugby fever hit the country with South Africa's hosting of the Rugby World Cup, the biggest event on the rugby calendar. Ellis Park was the venue for the World Cup Final which was played on 24 June 1995. In this spectacular final, New Zealand and South Africa ran onto the field at 14:45 to a thunderous roar of 62 000 spectators and millions of spectators glued in front of their TV's. South Africa won this game 15-12 after extra time was allowed. Ellis Park and the quality of rugby it represents became the symbol of South Africa's achievement as a nation united.