Krugersdorp

Krugersdorp is the site of a December 1880 gathering at which more than 6,000 men vowed to fight for the Transvaal's independence. In April 1887, the South African Republic's (ZAR) Executive Council purchased part of the farm Paarderkraal to build a town called Krugersdorp. By the time the town was founded, the existence of the gold reef along the Witwatersrand had become common knowledge, and thousands seeking their fortunes pitched their tents and pegged claims. In 1888, Krugersdorp was proclaimed a separate gold field. By 1895, the proclaimed goldfields was separated from Krugersdorp, and the town and Distriksdorp, near the monument, were merged in April that year. In 1952, the West Rand Consolidated Mine was the first in the world to extract uranium as a byproduct of the gold refining process. ==Demographics==

Krugersdorp is home to the South African Branch of Jehovah's Witnesses, The Watchtower Bible, and Tract Society. In 2010, the town's Coronation Park area received international exposure for the depiction of Afrikaner poverty by Finbarr O'Reilly. In 2014, the area was exposed again as a subject of the BBC documentary ''Reggie Yates' Extreme South Africa: White Slums''. ==Economy==

Gold, manganese, iron, asbestos and lime are all mined in the area. Krugersdorp has a modern business centre and shopping malls alongside many smaller shops, schools, and necessary amenities. There are also game reserves and a nearby bird sanctuary. ==Law and government==

Government Name change Although the city's municipality changed its name from Krugersdorp to Mogale City, the assumption that the city's name has been officially changed to Mogale City has been refuted by the Mogale City Municipality. Coat of arms Krugersdorp was proclaimed a municipality in 1903. By 1931, the municipal council had assumed a pseudo-heraldic coat of arms. The shield was divided by a horizontal line, the upper half subdivided by a vertical line, the three sections depicting (1) the Paardekraal monument, (2) a mining landscape, and (3) a plough. The motto was Labor omnia vincit improbus. A proper coat of arms was designed in the 1960s. It was registered with the Transvaal Provincial Administration in November 1965 and at the Bureau of Heraldry in January 1969. The arms were : Per chevron ploye Azure and Or, dexter two mine hammers in saltire and sinister a cogwheel all Or, and in base the Paardekraal Monument Gules. In layman's terms, the shield was divided by a curved chevron-shaped line into blue and gold, displaying two crossed mine hammers and a cogwheel at the top, and the Paardekraal monument at the bottom. The crest was three horses' heads issuing from a golden mural crown; the supporters were an eland and a gemsbok; and the motto was Labor omnia vincit improbus. ==Attractions==

Krugersdorp has popular tourist attractions such as Krugersdorp Game Reserve, Maropeng Visitor Centre, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens and Sterkfonten Caves. The town is the host of the annual Gauteng Beach Party held at Coronation Park. In recent years the event has featured performances by: • DJ Sbu • DJ Cleo • Winnie Khumalo • TBo Touch • TKZee • Brown Dash Afropop sensation Mafikizolo and Ntando Bangani are noted acts that hail from Krugersdorp. ==Sports==

Krugersdorp also has an 18-hole golf course and many facilities for extreme sports. ==Infrastructure==

Health Local clinics • Central Clinic • Kagiso Clinic B • Azaadville Clinic • Munsieville Clinic A • Dr Kaka Clinic Provincial hospitals • Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital (Paardekraal) • Sterkfontein Hospital • Leratong Hospital Private hospitals • Krugersdorp Private Hospital • Bell Street Day Hospital • Netcare Pinehaven Hospital • Medi-Cross Clinic ==Education==

The schools in Krugersdorp include: • Alma Mater International School • Krugersdorp High School • Town View High School • Thuto-Lefa Secondary School • Hoërskool Monument • Hoërskool Jan De Klerk • HTS Nic Diederichs • St Ursula's School • Hoërskool Noordheuwel • Hoërskool Bastion • Laerskool Muldersdrif • Laerskool Kenmare • Rant en Dal School for learners with Autism and SID • Hoërskool Pro-Practicum • Laerskool Millennium • Laerskool Ebenhaeser • Curro Krugersdorp Private School • Laerskool Paardekraal • Monument Primary School • Laerskool Krugersdorp Noord • Ahmed Timol Secondary School • Azaadville Muslim School • Silverfields Primary School • Tina Cowley Reading Centre Krugersdorp ==Notable people==

• Brad Binder • Trevor Blokdyk • Yusuf Dadoo • Johannes de Klerk • Hanno Dirksen • Jaque Fourie • Costa Gazi • Allan Heyl • Mmusi Maimane • Nomvula Mokonyane • Scott Spedding • Lucien van der Walt • Cindy Swanepoel • Rayno Nel ==See also==