Brakpan

Afrikaans name: Brakpan

Brakpan CBD

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Gauteng

A pan with brackish water gave rise to the name of "Brakpan" when a settlement was first created in the area. The town grew quickly because of the discoveries of coal, gold and uranium.

Brakpan was at one stage a suburb of Benoni but it was later declared a municipality. Brakpan had a strong English influence in its early years but it is now dominated by Afrikaners.

The town is conveniently located and is close to OR Tambo Airport as well as Benoni and Springs.

One of the main attractions in Brakpan is the Carnival City Entertainment World which houses a casino and other places of entertainment. Golfers will find a number of golf courses in and around the town.

Birders will definitely want to visit the 95 ha Rondebult Bird Sanctuary where around 200 species of birds have been recorded.

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Town Hall

Photo © Johan van Zyl

AFM Church (1954)

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Greek Orthodox Church (1948)

Photo © Johan van Zyl

References and further reading

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 20

Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 205

On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 341

Book of the Road - 4th edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2019 - Page: 110

Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 262

Britannica - Brakpan

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