Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, commonly known as Ekurhuleni or the City of Ekurhuleni, is a metropolitan municipality in Gauteng province, South Africa. It covers the East Rand region and surrounding areas, including major towns such as Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale, Germiston, Kempton Park, Springs, and Nigel. The municipality was established in 2000 through the merger of several local authorities as part of South Africa’s post-apartheid local government reorganization. The name Ekurhuleni is of local origin and reflects the regional identity.

Geography and infrastructure form a central part of its profile. The municipality lies to the east of Johannesburg and contains important transportation facilities, notably the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, the busiest airport in Africa. It is served by major highways and regional routes that support manufacturing, distribution, and logistics activities across its urbanized and peri-urban areas.

Governance and economy are closely linked. Ekurhuleni is administered by a metropolitan council, with a mayor and other elected officials responsible for delivering services such as water, sanitation, electricity, housing, roads, and waste management. The economy is diversified, with strong bases in manufacturing, logistics, retail, and light industry, reinforced by its access to air and road networks that connect it to the broader Gauteng economy.

Demographics and culture reflect the city’s diverse population. The area is linguistically and culturally varied, with communities speaking isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, English, and other South African languages. As a major urban hub, Ekurhuleni plays a key role in the Gauteng province’s population growth and economic activity.