斯普林斯 城镇

Springs is a former independent city that is now part of the City of Ekurhuleni, based in the east of Johannesburg (East Rand), in Gauteng Province, South Africa. It lies 50 km (31 mi) east of Johannesburg and 72 km (45 mi) southeast from Pretoria. Its name is probably derived from the large number of springs in the area, and its estimated population is more than 121,610 in 2011. It is situated at 1,628 m (5,341 ft) above sea level.

During the apartheid-era, the city was racially segregated under the Group Areas Act. These consisted of middle and upper-income white suburbs around the city centre and the Indian area of Bakerton east of the CBD. A community of black Africans were living in a "black spot" of Springs known as Payneville. The Town Council ordered the creation of a new black township to relieve overcrowding in Payneville. In the 1950s, the residents were forcibly removed and relocated to the newly created, KwaThema, southwest of the CBD.

Springs has a high concentration of Art Deco architecture. After Miami in Florida, it has the highest number of small-scale Art Deco buildings in the world.

Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014), the first South African Nobel Laureate in Literature (1991), was born and raised in Springs.

History

Springs is east of Johannesburg and on the East Rand, or what is now known as the Metropolitan area of Ekurhuleni, in the Gauteng Province. It was founded as a coal and gold mining town in 1904.

From about 1840, new settlers declared farms for themselves, especially after the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic, later Transvaal) became an independent republic with the signing of the Sand River Convention in 1852. These initial farms were large, but the measurements of the borders were inaccurate, and later, when the correct borders of the farms had to be documented, there were several extra or odd pieces of land that did not belong to any farm. These odd pieces of land then became state property. Three neighbouring farms on the Witwatersrand, namely Geduld (meaning 'patience'), De Rietfontein ('the reed fountain') and Brakpan (literally, 'small, brackish lake'), qualified.

Geography

Communities

The following are the main suburbs of Springs:

Architecture and monuments

Springs is known for its high concentration of Art Deco architecture, as it is home to the second-highest number of small scale Art Deco buildings in the world, after Miami, Florida. These Art Deco buildings were mostly constructed in the CBD during the interwar period, during the greatest growth period in the city. The style of architecture was employed to "counteract the incipient provincialism associated with a colonial city." In 1998, Micha Birch, then a member of the National Monuments Council, approached the municipality about arranging an exhibition of the city's Art Deco architecture. Art Deco examples include the Central Fire Station, built in 1938. A number are also known for their graphic artwork and letter work, notably seen in the Court Chambers, Renesta House, Palladium Cinema and Nureef House.

Climate

Springs has a typical sub-tropical climate with four distinct seasons.

Demographics

Jewish community

Up until the late 1990s, Springs had a vibrant Jewish community. There were two synagogues, with a total of 300 families. By 2015, most of the community had left for Johannesburg, Cape Town, or further afield like Israel, Australia, the US and the UK. The community's last rabbi was the Manchester-born Rabbi Yossi Liberow. The synagogue building, Springs Shul, still stands, but by 2015 operated as an Acts Church.

The town's first synagogue, Springs Gates of Hope Synagogue, was consecrated on 3 May 1908 and extended in 1933. Due to the growing membership, the original synagogue was demolished and the new synagogue, known as the Springs Shul, opened in September 1951.

In the 1940s, a Reform synagogue, Temple Emeth, (later Temple Emet) was designed by the architect, Harold Le Roith. The synagogue closed in the 1990s.

The Nobel Prize-winning Jewish writer, Nadine Gordimer was raised in Springs. Her father was a member of a local synagogue and attended Yom Kippur services.

Economy

Springs is an economic hub in Ekurhuleni, with industries including manufacturing, commerce, service, hospitality, mining and service providing companies.

Mining

Historically, Springs was known as a mining centre for gold and coal. Springs is still one of the gold mining centers in South Africa, which includes Gold One, Modder East Operation, the Geduld Mine, East Geduld Mine and the Daggafontein and East Daggafontein mines. New coal mines towards the east of the city are being developed.

Manufacturing

Springs is one of the industrial centres in Gauteng, and is served by four industrial suburbs: New Era, Nuffield, Enstra and Fulcrum. There are smaller industrial areas at Dersley, Daggafontein, Selection Park, Selcourt and Strubenvale. The only Kelloggs factory in South Africa is situated in Springs. Springs is also home to Impala Platinum's precious and base metal refineries as well as PFG Building Glass, the only producer of float glass on the continent.

Parks

Springs has about 120 parks, the most well-known being Presidents Park, where there is horse jumping, and Murray Park, which has a caravan site next to the Alexander Dam. There is also Frikkie Deysel Park in Petersfield, Butler Park in Geduld, George Sutter Park in Selection Park, and the Park of Dersley in Dersley Park. In Northeastern Springs, the Blesbokspruit Wetland Reserve has a great diversity of birds and plants. Springs also has a Game Reserve near the CBD and the Dutch-styled Pioneer Park next to the Springs CBD.

Education

There are several schools, ranging from pre-primary to secondary schools, and a tertiary college in Springs.

Secondary

Eureka High School

Hoërskool Dr Johan Jurgens High School

Hoer Tegniese Skool Springs

Hoerskool Hugenote

Jameson High School

Springs Boys' High School

Springs Girls' High School

Springs Secondary School

Veritas College – Springs

The Keep Learning Centre

Kenneth Masekela Secondary School

Zimisele High School

Further and higher

Ekurhuleni East College, Springs Campus

Combined

Combined schools offer primary and secondary, and sometimes pre-primary reception.

Olympia Park School

Dr. WK. Du Plessis School

Phelang

Protea School

Springs Muslim School

Veritas College

PLG Springs Academy

Media

The Springs Advertiser (a newspaper) covers the whole of the greater Springs area, including KwaThema. The African Reporter, another newspaper, covers KwaThema, Tsakane in Brakpan, and Duduza. Springs is also served by a local radio station, the East Rand Stereo (on a frequency of 93.9 FM), which covers the whole of Ekurhuleni Metro, eastern parts of Johannesburg, Heidelberg, Delmas, Secunda in Mpumalanga, Leandra, and Devon in Eastern Gauteng; it has over 300,000 listeners. East Rand Stereo operates from its headquarters in Springs, following some satellite studios that had been opened in Brakpan, Benoni and Boksburg.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road transportation

Springs is served by two national highways, namely the N12 to the north and the N17 to the south.

The N12 is an east–west freeway passing north of Springs, connecting it with Witbank in the east and with Johannesburg in the west. The N17 is an east–west freeway passing just south of the Springs CBD, connecting it with Leandra, Bethal and Ermelo in the east and with Johannesburg in the west.

Springs is also served by four provincial and regional routes, namely the R29, R51, R554 and the R555. The R29 is an east–west provincial route which connects Springs with Benoni in the north-west and with Leandra in the east. The north–south R51 connects Springs with Daveyton and Bapsfontein in the north and with Nigel and Balfour in the south. The R554 regional route connects Springs with Alberton and Johannesburg South in the west and the R555 regional route connects Springs with Delmas, Witbank and Middelburg in the north-east.

Notable people

Brandon Auret (born 27 December 1972), an actor on stage (Winnie), television (Isidingo, Angel's Song, One Way, Breathe), and film (Catch a Fire, Hansie – The Movie, District 9, Night Drive, The Race-ist, Elysium), rock singer, and songwriter, was born and raised in Springs and attended the local CBC (now Veritas College).

Ernest George Bock (17 September 1908 – 5 September 1961), a South African cricket player in one test (1935/1936), who once held one of the top Currie Cup bowling averages and was also a Griqualand West cricket and rugby player, relocated from Kimberley, Northern Cape, to Springs.

Rudi Bryson (born 25 July 1968), a former South African cricketer who played seven One Day Internationals in 1997, and played for Northern Transvaal and Eastern Province cricket teams, was born and raised in Springs, and attended Springs Boys' High School.