This region is home to Roodepoort and much of its surrounding developments in Johannesburg's centre and north, with areas such as Florida to the southeast and Bram Fischerville to the south.
It is well linked to the rest of the city with major roads, such as Main Reef Road, Ontdekkers Road, Beyers Naude Drive and Malibongwe Drive. It is also conveniently situated for access to leading Gauteng attractions, such as the Cradle of Humankind, Magaliesberg and Pilansberg.
The suburbs in the north of Roodepoort are among the most attractive residential areas in the metro, with houses dotted along rolling hills offering good views of the city to the east and the Magaliesberg to the west.
There are plenty of open spaces, golf courses and entertainment areas, as well as the city's premier park, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, which was previously known as the Witwatersrand Botanical Garden.
Region C is also home to two universities – the University of South Africa's Florida campus and the local campus of Australia's Monash University, in Ruimsig. It is well-served by amenities, including shopping centres, schools, a museum and theatre, health facilities, country lodges, restaurants, sporting facilities and nature trails.
It is well linked to the rest of the city with major roads, such as Main Reef Road, Ontdekkers Road, Beyers Naude Drive and Malibongwe Drive. It is also conveniently situated for access to leading Gauteng attractions, such as the Cradle of Humankind, Magaliesberg and Pilansberg.
The suburbs in the north of Roodepoort are among the most attractive residential areas in the metro, with houses dotted along rolling hills offering good views of the city to the east and the Magaliesberg to the west. There are plenty of open spaces, golf courses and entertainment areas, as well as the city's premier park, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, which was previously known as the Witwatersrand Botanical Garden. Region C is also home to two universities – the University of South Africa's Florida campus and the local campus of Australia's Monash University, in Ruimsig. It is well-served by amenities, including shopping centres, schools, a museum and theatre, health facilities, country lodges, restaurants, sporting facilities and nature trails. Where we are
To the south is Braamfischerville and its extensions. In the north (Region A) and east (Regions B and E), it shares boundaries with largely prosperous residential areas. Its southern border makes the northern boundary of Region D, around Slovoville, Dobsonville, Meadowlands and Orlando.
General description
Roodepoort and its surrounding suburbs are mainly residential areas, with lower levels of economic growth compared to the central business areas of Randburg and Sandton. The region includes agricultural holdings in the north, mining in the south and commercial areas like Westgate, Constantia, Northgate, Princess Crossing and Laser Park.
Its built-up areas have a fairly even profile, with few high-rise buildings penetrating the skyline. Residential density varies, with concentrations of high densities in new residential suburbs in Wilgespruit.
Picturesque natural spaces are abundant, including the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, most of which feature rocky ridges and watercourses.
The development of the main Witwatersrand ridge has resulted in an increased focus on protecting the remaining open areas along it, through wetlands and watercourses – especially in the southern mining belt – are faced with higher pollution and development pressures.
Urban sprawl is evident in the region, with rapid residential development, including townhouses and cluster developments, along and around Christiaan de Wet Road, among several other areas.
Region C is part of Gauteng's Primary Urban Development Support Zone. The implications of this include the integration of the region with Joburg's southern areas and residential growth in the northwest, with infill and densification. Protection, growth and enhancement of residential areas should ensure the attraction of further investment.
While the region has good links with the Johannesburg central business district, road links with other economic hubs, such as Randburg and Sandton, are poor. This has resulted in increased traffic congestion on several secondary roads, putting pressure on residential areas.
The major arterials, such as Ontdekkers Road, Hendrik Potgieter Road, Beyers Naude Drive and Christiaan de Wet Road, are seen as the backbones for development, which will involve the stimulation of economic growth, the promotion of easy access and movement, and investment for better services.
Cosmo City is the region's major development. In stark contrast to previous residential efforts, the housing project is mixed-use and mixed-income.
Once completed, it will boast about 15 000 housing units with various tenure options, including fully subsidised low-cost units, partially subsidised credit-linked units, fully bonded houses for sale on the open market and flats for rent. Amenities such as schools, clinics and a police station will be added.
Cosmo City is about 1 200 hectares in size, of which about 200 hectares have been set aside for open spaces and conservation. A further 100 hectares have been marked for commercial and industrial purposes and 15 hectares will be used for schools, clinics and other social services.
Since December 2005 more than 400 families from surrounding settlements have already been moved to low-cost houses in Cosmo City.
Demographic information
Of the region's mature population of 225 000, 65 per cent are economically active and about 24 per cent are of school-going age. The majority of the adult population is in the middle to the high-income bracket, with many young working individuals and small families. Around 32 per cent of the population has a post-matric qualification.
However, the community profile will change when Cosmo City and Zandspruit have been fully developed. It is expected that these changes will not be extreme but will indicate a normalised community, representative of a greater spectrum of socio-economic groups.
Key issues
The region's vast tracks of developable vacant land are vulnerable to uncontrolled and unmanaged development, land invasion, leapfrog development, illegal uses, urban sprawl and the loss of valuable agricultural lands.
To the south is Braamfischerville and its extensions. In the north (Region A) and east (Regions B and E), it shares boundaries with largely prosperous residential areas. Its southern border makes the northern boundary of Region D, around Slovoville, Dobsonville, Meadowlands and Orlando.
Region C covers the greater Roodepoort area, parts of Randburg and northwestern suburbs like Olivedale, Northriding and Jukskei Park. It is also home to the mixed-use Cosmo City development.
Several key issues have been identified:
- Several key issues have been identified:
- Unencumbered mining land offers a development opportunity within certain constraints;
- Urban decay of the areas south of the Johannesburg-Randfontein railway line, particularly around the Roodepoort CBD, is a serious problem;
- The north-south linkages within and through the region are weak;
- High levels of congestion resulting from under-use of the rail facility and high use of taxis;
- The cross-border linkages for significant public facilities, such as the Cradle of Humankind, are unclear;
- There is a need for housing in the south while land is available in the north;
- Increasing numbers of people are being housed in unhealthy and exploitative circumstances in the Princess AH area on main Reef Road through "shack farming"; and
- The region's low economic growth rate leads to low levels of employment creation and economic activity.
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