Randpark Ridge
Encyclopedia
Randpark Ridge is a suburb
of the city of Johannesburg
, South Africa
. It is located in the Roodepoort region (region C) of the Johannesburg metropolitan
council. It fell into the town of Randburg during the apartheid era. Developed in the early 1980s and still relatively new, Randpark Ridge is bordered by several other suburbs including Weltevreden Park, Sundowner, Boskruin, Bromhof, Honeydew and Fairland
. It is located on the far north-west extremity of Johannesburg.
The suburb is chiefly residential, with a few nodes for commerce along the major routes that service the area. It is well planned and forms part of Johannesburg’s large man-made forest. Its proximity to both the city centre and Sandton make it an extremely popular area to live. It is, however, still close enough to the Magaliesburg so as to feel part of the countryside. The area is serviced by one highway
, namely the N1 Western Bypass which connects the vicinity to Sandton and Pretoria
to the north and to Roodepoort and Soweto
to the south. The major arterial route is Beyers Naudé Drive
(M5), which radiates from the inner city. Of importance are also John Vorster Drive and Ysterhout Drive (M6), as well as Christiaan de Wet Road (R564) running somewhat parallel to the freeway.
Rand Park High School along with Rand Park Primary School serve as the area’s public schools, and Trinityhouse High School and Aurora Private School
are well-respected private schools in the area. The Randridge Mall and Rock Cottage are two well-known Randpark Ridge shopping malls, and several smaller malls exist for daily expenses. The prominent ridge
(which gives the suburb its name) is protected as the Boschkop Nature Reserve
, and is a prominent sight from most of western Johannesburg. Several parks abound including Essenhout Park and Hy Many
Park. Much open land exists in the suburb especially to the west near to Honeydew.
Transport
can be a problem for residents. The major routes are blocked in the morning and afternoon traffic, and this can make travel from the city centre much more difficult than usual. No train
service runs near the area and thus it is buses and minibus taxis
that offer the only public transport to residents. The nearest local airport is Lanseria Airport
and the international airport is OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of the city of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is located in the Roodepoort region (region C) of the Johannesburg metropolitan
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
council. It fell into the town of Randburg during the apartheid era. Developed in the early 1980s and still relatively new, Randpark Ridge is bordered by several other suburbs including Weltevreden Park, Sundowner, Boskruin, Bromhof, Honeydew and Fairland
Fairlands, Gauteng
Fairland is a residential suburb in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. The area originates from a farm called Weltenvrede.Currently, statistics show that Fairland has the lowest crime compared to other suburbs within Johannesburg....
. It is located on the far north-west extremity of Johannesburg.
The suburb is chiefly residential, with a few nodes for commerce along the major routes that service the area. It is well planned and forms part of Johannesburg’s large man-made forest. Its proximity to both the city centre and Sandton make it an extremely popular area to live. It is, however, still close enough to the Magaliesburg so as to feel part of the countryside. The area is serviced by one highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
, namely the N1 Western Bypass which connects the vicinity to Sandton and Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
to the north and to Roodepoort and Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
to the south. The major arterial route is Beyers Naudé Drive
Beyers Naudé Drive
Beyers Naudé Drive is a large arterial route in Johannesburg, South Africa. It starts at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park, travelling through Melville, Roosevelt Park, Northcliff, Blackheath and traversing the N1 Western Bypass at Randpark Ridge. It terminates at the N14 freeway near...
(M5), which radiates from the inner city. Of importance are also John Vorster Drive and Ysterhout Drive (M6), as well as Christiaan de Wet Road (R564) running somewhat parallel to the freeway.
Rand Park High School along with Rand Park Primary School serve as the area’s public schools, and Trinityhouse High School and Aurora Private School
Aurora Private School
Aurora Private School, commonly known as Aurora, is a private school located in Sundowner, Randburg. The school was established in 1993 by three women, Wendy Benbow-Hebbert, Judy Nicholas and Debbie Adam.-Location:...
are well-respected private schools in the area. The Randridge Mall and Rock Cottage are two well-known Randpark Ridge shopping malls, and several smaller malls exist for daily expenses. The prominent ridge
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
(which gives the suburb its name) is protected as the Boschkop Nature Reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, and is a prominent sight from most of western Johannesburg. Several parks abound including Essenhout Park and Hy Many
Park. Much open land exists in the suburb especially to the west near to Honeydew.
Transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
can be a problem for residents. The major routes are blocked in the morning and afternoon traffic, and this can make travel from the city centre much more difficult than usual. No train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
service runs near the area and thus it is buses and minibus taxis
Taxis
A taxis is an innate behavioral response by an organism to a directional stimulus or gradient of stimulus intensity. A taxis differs from a tropism in that the organism has motility and demonstrates guided movement towards or away from the stimulus source ...
that offer the only public transport to residents. The nearest local airport is Lanseria Airport
Lanseria Airport
Lanseria International Airport is a privately owned international airport that is situated north of Randburg and Sandton to the north west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The airport can handle aircraft up to the Boeing 757-300 and Airbus A319.-History:...
and the international airport is OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni.