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Greater Benoni — The City of Lakes

Benoni Means ‘Son of My Sorrow'

Benoni is a Hebrew word of biblical origin. Johan Rissik, surveyor-general in the days of Paul Kruger's old Transvaal Republic, had great difficulty in surveying a very irregularly-shaped piece of land. Recalling how in Genesis Rachel had died after bearing her son Benjamin and he was named Benoni, Son of my Sorrow, he called this farm Benoni too. During the 1910 elections and the mining strikes of the early 1900s, the wild behaviour of Benonians gave the town such a bad reputation that people seriously suggested its name be changed! Our city's motto is a Latin phrase, Auspicium Melioris Aevi, which means "a pledge for better times*. Benoni achieved city status in October 1992.

Blesbokspruit

The source of this perennial stream is near Jan Smuts airport, and its tributaries which flow through Benoni, join the Blesbokspruit itself east of Murray Park in Springs. From there it flows south towards Heidelberg and into the Suikerbosrand River, which joins the Vaal at Vereeniging. After a further journey of 800km, the Vaal joins the Orange River, and after another 800km this water reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Alexander Bay. Benoni lies in the summer rainfall region of South Africa, at an altitude of 1650m, and has an average annual rainfall of 668mm. Its temperatures show a high daily and annual range, typical of places that lie deep in the interior of continents, far from the moderating influence of the sea.

Bullfrogs

Bullfrogs were until fairly recently, common creatures in the many wetland areas in and around Benoni. As a result of their habitat being destroyed by new township developments, refuse dumping and agricultural activities, the bullfrog population has been drastically reduced. They are very sensitive to pollution, and thousands are killed as they trek in search of fresh water. Bullfrog Pan in Rynfield is a shallow grassy highveld pan, and one of the most important breeding areas for bullfrogs in the whole of South Africa. When this harmless creature becomes angry, it inflates itself with air and can look quite ferocious. It is by far the largest frog in South Africa, and can reach a length of up to 23 cm. The adult male produces a very loud bellowing sound during the mating season, and can be recognised by its greenish colour and orange armpits. These frogs are not poisonous, as many people believe, nor do they attract snakes. It was the bullfrog which inspired the Benoni Biz logo.

Bunny Park

This famous attraction in Rynfield was established in the 1960s. It covers an area of approximately 19 hectares, and is inhabited by mountain goats and farmyard animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, ponies and donkeys. It is also home to hundreds of cuddly bunnies. It has many waterfowl and a big aviary which once was stocked with more than fifty different types of exotic birds. As a result of constant theft, it now houses only a few common varieties. It has picnic facilities, a kiddies' playground, a refreshment kiosk and an authentic thatched Zulu hut. The mining headgear displayed there once worked at the New Modder Mine, which ceased operations in 1952. The park is open from 08:00 to 17:00 every day, and attracts more than 500 families per weekend.

Coat of Arms

This was drawn up by the College of Heralds in England in 1937. The castle which appears in it represents the town of Bedford in England, from which George Farrar, our city's founder came. Benoni's gold-mining history is represented by gold circles (or bezants, as they are known in heraldic terms), on the collars of the springbuck. The arm wielding the hammer represents industry, and the rising sun the bright and rising future of the Benoni municipality. The four fountains within our municipal borders are represented by the four blue and silver circles, which are called "fountains" in heraldry.

Emergency Communication Centre

Benoni is the control centre for all emergency calls made in South Africa on Vodacom's cellular network 112 and Teljoy's 911 services. Benoni Fire and Emergency Services run a sophisticated computer system, on par with the best in the world, which can recognise the telephone number of anyone calling in on these two emergency systems. The only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere, this system immediately identifies the network antenna nearest the caller. While highly-trained staff provide life-saving information and techniques over the phone, the emergency service closest to the caller rushes to the scene of the accident. Approximately 300 calls per day are handled, and up to 22 000 per month over peak periods such as December. Benoni's City Council was the first local authority in South Africa to privatise its fire and ambulance service.

Gold

Gold was discovered on the farm Benoni early in 1887. Fabulous wealth in the reefs around it, and by the early 1900s Benoni was surrounded by seven of the richest gold mines in the world. The gold-bearing Witwatersrand rocks, consisting of quartzites, conglomerates and shales, show at the surface largely along the bottom of the valley in which our line of lakes lies, and it was here that our first mines were worked at very shallow levels along incline shafts. The New Modderfontein Mine showed a profit of over R4 million in 1926 — a vast amount in those days. This mine was unique in the area, in that it also produced diamonds. Benoni's last mines closed down in 1964. Now thirty years later, gold is again being mined in Benoni near the Hyperama, between the no 2 and 3 shafts of the old Kleinfontein Mine.

Heliport

Benoni has its own heliport at Bluegum Creek on Golden Drive. It ranks with the finest in the world, and is registered with the Department of Transport as a 24-hour VFR heliport. It can accommodate even the largest helicopters day or night, has parking facilities for 20, and provides maintenance, a medical rescue service, commercial flights and photography, video, training or sightseeing trips throughout southern Africa. Benoni has a longstanding interest in flying: in 1929 an aerodrome was opened in Benoni with a big flying display, and in 1933 a race was staged between an aeroplane and a speedboat over five laps around Middle Dam! The aerodrome was situated between 7th Street and Great North Road (called Pretoria Road in those days), which is the present suburb of Airfield. During the Second World War the No 4 Air Training School was established there for both South African and Royal Air Force personnel, and Government Village was built for staff housing.

Kleinfontein Mine Dump

This 92m high landmark has for many decades been the highest man-made place in Benoni. It contains approximately four and half million tons of sand material, and about three and a half tons of gold, of which approximately half can be recovered with modern methods of extracting gold. This would weigh about 1700kg, and be worth approximately R77 000 000, but its value depends entirely on the fluctuating price of gold. This well-known reminder of our city's gold-mining origins could have disappeared completely in five years' time.

Korsman's Bird Sanctuary The bird sanctuary in Westdene was declared a Natural Reserve in 1967, and is regarded as one of the finest bird sanctuaries in South Africa. It covers an area of approximately 50 hectares, of which 20 are under water. At its centre this natural pan is about 1.5 metres deep. It is inhabited by about 130 species of birds, many bats, antelope, reptiles, spiders, 25 species of butterflies, and 10 different kinds of grass are to be found there. It is named after a former town councillor.

In the last century this stretch of water was used as an outspan by the early trekboers. Zebra were introduced in 1964, but they refused to share the reserve with other animals, and were transferred elsewhere.

Korsman's Bird

Lakes

Our five lakes have a shoreline of more than 40 kilometres. Sir George

Lakes

Our five lakes have a shoreline of more than 40 kilometres. Sir George Farrar, mining magnate and founder of Benoni, realised the value of water for the mining industry, and had Homestead and Kleinfontein Dams built on the Blesbokspruit. A power station on Kleinfontein Dam supplied the electricity to work our early gold mines, and in later years there was a laundry on Civic Lake. Because its series of lakes is reminiscent of a string of pearls, Benoni has often been called the "Jewel of the East Rand". The Blesbokspruit Trail, an 11km long, clearly-marked leisure walking trail, starts at Homestead Dam, runs along the shores of Middle and Civic Lakes, and ends in the park at Kleinfontein Dam. Rynfield Dam was built in 1896 and supplied the Van Ryn Mine with water until the 1920s.

Lane of Fame

Benoni has its own Lane of Fame, in which famous Benonians or visitors are honoured. It is situated in the Cranbourne Centre, where the hand and footprints of many of the famous can be seen, such as locals Frith van der Merwe (Springbok long distance athlete), Montgomery Zwane (Mr Junior Universe), Vic Toweel (SA's first world champion boxer), and visitors Chris Barnard (pioneer heart transplant surgeon), Helen Ouma, (first-ever Woman of Africa), and Tom Jones (English pop star)! Our Tom Jones Street, (originally Bedford Street), was not named after him, but after a local Tom Jones, who became a Town Councillor in 1909, and was Mayor in 1918 and 1919.

Locomotive

The old locomotive in front of Benoni's museum was recently restored for the Benoni City Council by the Railway Preservation Group. It was built in 1903 by R & W Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd of Glasgow, Scotland. It worked at the Kleinfontein Mine, and its 4-6-2T wheel arrangement is believed to be unique to South Africa. It was one of three built for New Kleinfontein Mines, and as No 3 was christened "Benoni". A Benoni resident, Ken McLuckie, who lived at no 2 shaft on Kleinfontein, remembers: "Although the mine had its own power station, its heavy machinery was worked on steam power, and Old Ben had to transport vast amounts of coal from the siding at Range View Station on the Witbank Line every day. To me and my mates nothing was more majestic than Old Ben, with its name on each side in big brass letters, pulling trucks up an incline, with steam blowing out of the joints at every stroke of the pistons, and smoke belching out of the smokestack. The airliner had not yet arrived, and all heavy transport in those days was done by locomotive, steam lorry or ox wagon. So all the engine drivers were our heroes, because little boys had nothing else to dream about then.'

Miracle Icon of the Crucifixion of Christ

This appears in one of the north-eastern windows of the St Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Woburm Avenue, in the late afternoon as the sun is setting. There are many other windows of exactly the same amber hammered glass in this lovely church, but only in one does the image appear. There is no physical or chemical explanation for the appearance of the amazingly clear picture of the scene on the hill of Golgotha. The congregation and the architect of the church, Paul Voursas, believe that it is truly a divine sign.

Museum

The main theme of our museum centres around the strikes which ravaged the town and its gold-mining industry in the early years of this century. The 1922 strike, the first major strike ever experienced in this country, features prominently in the museum's displays. The cultural diversity of Benoni's people is a secondary theme of the museum, and one of the rarest and most valuable items on display is an enormous Tswana clay beer-pot, made at the beginning of this century. The interesting herb garden boasts more than 60 different herbs, many of which are still used in traditional African healing practices. Opened in 1994 on the comer of Elston Avenue and Rothsay Street, in the building that once housed the old municipal health clinic, this museum is an excellent example of modern display techniques and contemporary themes.

Names

To honour Benonians who have served their town or their country, their names have been listed in commemorative plaques in four public places in our city. A memorial to The Glorious Dead" who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars (1914—1918 and 1939—1945), has been erected in Curtis Park in front of our Town Hall. In the foyer of the Town Hall itself, a list of all our mayors appears, from the very first one, R Dobson, who was elected in 1907. In Alec Potash Park, at the top end of Prince's Avenue, a memorial stone reminds us of the members of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment who were kilted in the Red Revolt in March 1922, when striking miners ambushed a contingent of the Regiment, killing 12 and wounding 26 "by shooting them down from concealed positions". A list of men who died in defence of our country during the Border War between 1973 and 1987 appears in the east foyer of the Council Administrative Building in Elston Avenue.

Population

Benoni has a population of approximately 500 000: 18 000 •Asians, 402 000 Blacks, 2 000 Coloureds and 79 000 Whites. The first people in the Benoni area were hunters who roamed here about 50 000 years ago. Remnants of their Stone Age weapons were found in the Rynfield area and near Cranbourne Station many years ago. Four groups, worlds apart in language, custom and background, formed the greater part of Benoni's early population—the /Afrikaners, mainly as farmers; the Blacks, mostly as labourers on the mines and the farms; the British, mostly Cornishmen from the coal or tin mines in SW England, as miners; and the Jews, mainly from Russia, Poland and Lithuania, generally as tradesmen. The first Indians, mostly descendants of the workers brought from India as cheap labour for the sugar plantations in Natal, came to the gold mining areas as traders.

Prison

Within the borders of Benoni lies the prison which houses the biggest number of inmates under one roof in the southern hemisphere. Up to 4000 prisoners can be accommodated in the Modderbee Prison at any one time. Originally part of the Modderbee mining complex, it was proclaimed as a prison in 1959. A small scale farming project provides fresh vegetables for the daily needs of all the inmates. In line with modern trends, much emphasis is placed on the upliftment and rehabilitation of prisoners. Literacy programmes, facilities for further study through correspondence and training in basic skills such as carpentry, plumbing, bricklaying etc are provided. Modderbee was the first prison in South Africa to acquire a complete TV satellite system, and each cell is provided with a TV and M-Net facility.

Tom Jones Interchange

Considered an outstanding example of engineering skill, this interchange provides the Benoni CBD with the best access from a freeway on the Rand, with the exception of Johannesburg. Its construction was complicated by a road through a lake, a water crossing below a dam's spillway, a road through a refuse dump and a large sewer main, a railway line and an intricate existing road network. Despite severe time constraints it was completed a month before due date and within its budget of R22 million. Unique for its complexity and the amazing innovation which was shown in constructing it on a relatively small site, the project was the winner of the prestigious SA Association of Consulting Engineers' Award for Excellence in Civil Engineering in 1993.

Town Hall

This building is a fine example of art deco, a style of design popular during the 1920s and 1930s. Also called style modern, it features an anti-traditional look of sleek elegance that was associated with wealth and sophistication. It was characterised by geometric shapes, smooth lines and streamlined forms, which are reflected in the facade and lights of the building, and its 37 metre high central tower. Other famous examples of this style are New York's Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Centre. The foundation stone of our Town Hall was laid by the Governor-General, the Earl of Clarendon in 1936. Tom Newby was the mayor at the time. Erected in Curtis Park at a cost of £80 000 (R168 000 in those days), the Town Hall was opened in October 1938 by the next Governor-General, Sir Patrick Duncan, during the mayoral year of Mrs Susan Hills, Benoni's first woman mayor. At the opening function the Governor-General was presented with a golden key by the architect, Mr J Lockwood-Hall of Pretoria. The main hall with galleries can accommodate 1 200 people.

Tranquility

The bronze statue of the young girl on the Cranbourne side of Plaza Square was a gift to Benoni from General Mining, original owners of the Plaza Building. Its sculptor, Tienie Pritchard, was born in Zoekmekaar near Pietersburg in 1938, and is regarded as one of South Africa's foremost sculptors. Other examples of his public commissions can be seen in Pretoria, Pietersburg, Toronto (Canada), and at the Delville Wood Memorial in France. His biggest work to date is the seven ton, nine metre high statue of George Harrison in Johannesburg (George Harrison was the man who first discovered gold on the Witwatersrand in mid-1886).

University

Benoni has its own university. The East Rand Campus of Vista University, situated between Cloverdene and Daveyton, is one of seven Vista campuses in South Africa. Degrees and diplomas in the faculties of Art, Education, Economic and Management Sciences are offered, and qualifications obtained here are recognised by all tertiary institutions throughout South Africa. Student numbers are growing steadily, and for the 1995 academic year just more than 2000 students are registered. Current facilities are being expanded, and an amount of R12 million has been earmarked for the first phase of the new campus.

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