Welcome to West Rand District Municipality

WRDM PROFILE

The West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) comprises of four local municipalities, namely Mogale City, Merafong City,Randfontein and Westonaria. The District Management Area (DMA) also falls under the jurisdiction of the WRDM.

The DMA is an area with unique characteristics, highlighting the needs where special attention is required. The development of this area is in line with its unique character as part of a World Heritage Site and the needs of the community residing in the area.

The DMA forms part of the Cradle of Humankind, which has been assigned World Heritage Site status. Upgraded facilities at world-famous Sterkfontein Caves were opened in March 2005, with its world-class visitor interpretation centre, called Maropeng which was opened in December 2005. The Maropeng Visitor Centre is the prime site of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. This centre also boasts conference facilities, an open-air amphitheatre, an underground lake, restaurants, a craft market, tourist information point, exhibition facilities, a four star hotel with 24 rooms, learners accommodation and more.

Vibrant expansion, robust construction-offices to match Sandton, homes, townhouses, secure villages, huge shopping malls and still plenty space for more! Western Gauteng is less than 45 minutes drive along excellent highways from Sandton, Pretoria and Johannesburg. It is also close to airports like O R  Tambo and Lanseria International Airports.

Soft dolomite has led to the earliest evidence of the discovery of man, and to the declaration of the Cradle of Humankind as a World Heritage Site. Gold Mining is the backbone of the South African economy, with the most mining centred in Gauteng. The Gold Rush resulted in the need for towns and cities and gave birth to Johannesburg and to the west of it, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Randfontein and Westonaria, which were established to fill the needs of mining communities there. Two of the earliest gold mines in South Africa can be visited at Kromdraai and Magaliesburg, where guided tours reveal the lives of these early pioneers. Prominent on the West Rand are the towering mining headgear structures. Suspended from a gantry constructed over the opening of the mineshaft, these structures were used for lowering and raising equipment, mined rock and personnel. Modern, more durable concrete structures have now replaced these relics.