Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg was first discovered in the 1850s when Pieter Jacob Marais found gold in a southern African river. This was the Jukskei River, and it resulted in a temporary formation of a city. Near the end of the 19th century, the Transvaal Republic and Orange Free State were independent and established by the Boers in the South Africa area. Not long after original establishment, people were more intent on discovering gold nearby. Two men, Johann Rissik and then-vice-president Christiaan Johannes Joubert, established Johannesburg while finding these gold mines. The city was named Johannesburg, in honor of both Joubert and Rissik.

The Apartheid movement was abundant in in Johannesburg and South Africa with protests over racial injustice and inequality. This was in response to the all-white government controlling South Africa beginning in 1948; there were no free or democratic elections, and the policies of racial segregation were enforced in all public places. In the 1980s, though, the government turned democratic; this allowed for free elections regardless of race. The National Party formed a new constitution in 1984 regarding voting and racial rights, resulting in a great comeback in Johannesburg and other South African cities. Today, Johannesburg is a thriving city economically. The primary languages in South Africa are Afrikaans English; the currency used is the South African Rand, and 1 Rand equals $0.062 USD.

Location

Job Opportunities

Being one of the world's leading financial centers, Johannesburg has opportunities galore in banking, finance, and information technology. Previously, there were several mining companies as the city was developing and urbanizing. However, as mining went away, the companies remained in Johannesburg to offer other opportunities, including those in the finance and information technology fields. In addition, Johannesburg offers real estate and property management, healthcare, and business travel operations. These opportunities extend from smaller companies to working in government offices. From information technology to healthcare, Johannesburg is plentiful with job opportunities in different industries.

Cost of Living

For apartment rental in Johannesburg, price is more indicative based on occupancy rather than location. For one-bedroom flats, a city-center unit will average 6,400 Rand ($420 USD); ones outside the city average 6,150 Rand ($400 USD). For larger three-bedroom flats, average city rental prices are 14,400 Rand ($945 USD), while those in the suburbs average 11,200 Rand ($735 USD).

Monthly utilities, including electricity, heating, cooling, and water, average 1,765 Rand ($115 USD) per month. For internet usage, monthly costs average 915 Rand ($60 USD) for larger data storage and unlimited internet usage. Owning a car is also feasible in Johannesburg. For brand-new smaller cars, the lower price point is around 300,000 Rand ($19,675 USD); gas prices average 62.50 Rand ($4.10 USD) per gallon. Johannesburg offers smaller modes of public transit in addition to the possibility of owning a car.

Transportation

Like other cities in South Africa, Johannesburg offers the minibus taxi to get around town. These taxis operate without set schedules or designated stops; just call one and get from one place to another quickly. There is also a greater metro system, with both trains and buses. The Johannesburg train line, known as the Gautrain, travels between Johannesburg's city center and its northern business district. Other suburbs, the Pretoria, or Tambo International Airport are also accessible via the Gautrain. Other options for public transportation include tuk-tuks, riding in a motorcycle-like car; Ubers and other taxi cars; and the city sightseeing bus.

Recreation

Johannesburg is full of both history and recreational opportunities. For history enthusiasts, the Apartheid Museum conveys typical local dynamics during the Apartheid period. Alexandra Township, one of the oldest townships in South Africa, is where Nelson Mandela lived when he first moved to Johannesburg. One other notable historic location is the Museum of Transportation, where there are vintage collections of vehicles dating as old as 400 years.

For more casual and leisurely recreation, there are an abundance of parks and gardens around town. The Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, located in Johannesburg, offers relaxing nature views with waterfalls throughout. For more hiking options, the Klipriviersburg and Modderfontein Nature Reserves are abundant with hiking hills and scenic water features. One other well-known area is the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and Emmarentia Dam; there is a Shakespeare-inspired garden, with opportunities for canoeing on the lake.

Climate

Johannesburg has a subtropical climate; the Winters are mild and sunny, while the Summer season is warm with occasional rain and storms. Expect highs to average in the mid-60s (17 to 20 degrees Celsius) between September and April, while the year's lowest average highs may reach the low to mid 50s (10 to 12 degrees Celsius) from May to August. Expect more rainfall in the first and last few months of each year; rainfall may range from 3 to 5 inches monthly between October and March. April through September are very pleasant with warm temps and little precipitation.