The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (; ; ; ) is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of the East Rand region of Gauteng, a large suburban region east of Johannesburg. Ekurhuleni means "place of peace" in XiTsonga. Ekurhuleni is one of the five districts of Gauteng and one of the eight metropolitan municipalities of South Africa. The seat of Ekurhuleni is Germiston and the most spoken language is Zulu at 28.6%. The city is home to South Africa's busiest airport, OR Tambo International Airport, which is in the Kempton Park area of Ekurhuleni."Background." Ekurhuleni. 3 (3/8). Retrieved on 30 September 2009.
History The municipality was established in 2000, the result of a merger between the Eastern Gauteng Services Council, the Khayalami Metropolitan Council, and the previous municipalities of Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale/Lethabong, Germiston, Kempton Park/Tembisa, Nigel and Springs. The planned expansion of Ekurhuleni through the abolition of the Lesedi Local Municipality, which includes Heidelberg, and its absorption into Ekurhuleni after the 2016 municipal elections, were blocked by the High Court of South Africa in 2015.
The name Ekurhuleni meaning place of peace alludes to the fact that the East Rand townships were the site of severe political violence between supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the ANC in the early 1990s, prior to South Africa's first non-racial elections in 1994.
Geography Ekurhuleni lies on the highveld plateau at about 1600 metres in altitude above sea level (asl). The highest elevation is at the Gillooly's Ridge – Bill Stewart Side – Fisher's Hill at 1772 metres asl. The lowest point is at 1552 metres asl. The city is rich in wetlands, pans, streams and rivers. The city is highly urbanised; however, the north especially has high-potential agricultural land.
Climate Ekurhuleni has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb) according to the Köppen-Geiger Climate classification.page5 This is a temperate climate of warm summers and dry winters. In the winter months (May - October) the city has a diurnal temperature pattern with a high amplitude, as temperatures can range from freezing at night to mid 20s °C in the day.
The main precipitation falls between October and March with a monthly average precipitation of up to 148 mm which falls usually in convective thundershowers. The daily maximum temperatures in October–March are on average 27 °C. The Winter is mostly dry with only a few cold fronts reaching the highveld from the southern Atlantic Ocean."".
Main places
The 2011 census divided the municipality into inter alia the following main places: Place Area (km2) Population Most spoken languages Alberton 77.16121,536Afrikaans 42%, English 34%, Zulu 6%, Sotho 5%, Xhosa 2%, foreign languages 2% Benoni 175.55158,777English 41%, Afrikaans 19%, Zulu 17%, Pedi 5%, Sotho 3%, Tsonga 3%, foreign languages 3%, Xhosa 2%, Ndebele 2% Boksburg 162.35260,321Afrikaans 28%, English 18%, Zulu 14%, Pedi 9%, Xhosa 8%, Sotho 7%, Tsonga 4%, foreign languages 3% Brakpan 182.8173,080Afrikaans 47%, English 16%, Zulu 14%, Sotho 4%, Pedi 3%, foreign languages 2%, Tsonga 2%, Xhosa 2%, Tswana 2% Daveyton 14.45127,967Zulu 37%, Pedi 13%, Xhosa 11%, Sotho 10%, Tsonga 9%, Tswana 5%, Ndebele 3%, English 2%, foreign languages 2% Duduza 11.2373,295Zulu 64%, Sotho 16%, Xhosa 5%, Pedi 2%, Tswana 2% Edenvale 20.0349,292English 72%, Afrikaans 11%, foreign languages 4%, Zulu 3% Etwatwa 20.83151,866Zulu 44%, Tsonga 12%, Pedi 12%, Sotho 7%, Xhosa 6%, Ndebele 6%, Swazi 2%, Tswana 2% Germiston 143.27255,863English 24%, Afrikaans 16%, Zulu 16%, Xhosa 9%, Pedi 7%, Sotho 7%, foreign languages 5%, Tsonga 4%, Venda 2%, Tswana 2%Helderwyk Extension 80.000109773,613Zulu 48%, Sotho 30%, Xhosa 12%, Tswana 6%, Afrikaans 4% Katlehong 55.36407,294Zulu 37%, Sotho 22%, Xhosa 13%, Pedi 9%, Tsonga 6%, English 2% Kempton Park 149.05171,575Afrikaans 34%, English 26%, Zulu 8%, Pedi 7%, foreign languages 4%, Sotho 4%, Tswana 3%, Xhosa 3%, Tsonga 2% Kwa-Thema 14.70103,727Zulu 55%, Xhosa 8%, Sotho 7%, Pedi 7%, Tswana 6%, Ndebele 4%, Tsonga 2%, English 2%, Swazi 2% Langaville 10.1054,710Zulu 46%, Pedi 11%, Tsonga 10%, Xhosa 8%, Sotho 6%, Ndebele 4%, Swazi 3%, English 2%, Tswana 2% Nigel 139.0738,318Afrikaans 43%, Zulu 23%, English 16%, Sotho 5%, Xhosa 2% Springs 183.50121,610Afrikaans 30%, Zulu 20%, English 15%, Pedi 8%, Xhosa 7%, Sotho 5%, Tsonga 3%, foreign languages 3%, Tswana 2% Thembisa 42.08463,109Pedi 33%, Zulu 21%, Tsonga 13%, Xhosa 7%, Sotho 6%, Tswana 3%, Ndebele 3%, Venda 3%, foreign languages 2%, English 2% Tokoza 9.43105,827Zulu 40%, Sotho 21%, Xhosa 18%, Pedi 5%, Tsonga 3% Tsakane 19.75135,994Zulu 57%, Sotho 10%, Pedi 7%, Xhosa 6%, Tsonga 4%, Tswana 3%, Ndebele 3%, English 2% Vosloorus 32.10163,216Zulu 46%, Sotho 17%, Xhosa 8%, Pedi 7%, Tsonga 5%, Tswana 4%, English 3% Wattville 2.1725,667Zulu 47%, Sotho 13%, Pedi 10%, Xhosa 7%, Tswana 5%, Tsonga 5%, English 2%, foreign languages 2%, Ndebele 2%
Parks and nature Germiston Lake is a natural pan in the Elsburgspruit system and has a catchment area of 1174ha. It is fed mostly by surface runoff water and storm water drains. The lake is one of the cleanest bodies of water in South Africa. It has a size of 57.4 ha and a maximum capacity of 2839×. Its depth is approximately 8 metres. On the banks of the lake are a recreational park with playground equipment and braai areas as well as a rowing club and golf club.
A wetland of note is the Blesbokriver wetland which stretches over an area of 1858ha.
The Bullfrog Pan is almost 10 hectares and is home to more than 150 bird species.
Landmarks In 2017, the Chris Hani memorial at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Boksburg was revealed during the 22nd commemoration of his death. The Chris Hani memorial site consists of the Monument, the Walk of Remembrance and the Wall of Remembrance which recognizes the historical events, places and people associated with the liberation struggle of South Africa.
The Thokoza Wall of Remembrance commemorates the people who died in the fight between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the residents.
Arts and culture
In 2017, the Thami Mnyele Fine arts award had its 30th anniversary.
O.R. Tambo Narrative Centre tells visitors all about the lives and contributions of the Oliver Tambo and Adelaide Tambo towards the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Leeupan Wetland. It also has an exhibition of environmental education aimed at children.
Since 2016, Ekurhuleni has hosted the Ekurhuleni International Film Festival.
Demographics
In 2016, 3,379,104 people lived in Ekurhuleni, of whom 22.7% were under 15 years old, 71.2% were between the ages of 15-64 and 6.1% were older than 65 years old. Ekurhuleni had 1,299,490 households with an average people per household number of 2.6. 80.2% of people lived in formal dwellings and 52.9% owned housing.
The following statistics are from the 2001 census.
LanguagePopulation%IsiZulu 908 002 28.81%English 377 935 11.99%Afrikaans 375 611 11.8%Sepedi 359 245 11.40%Sesotho 315 806 10.02%IsiXhosa 252 757 8.02%XiTsonga 208 865 6.63%Setswana 90 307 2.87%Other81 878 2.60%IsiNdebele 75 150 2.38%Tshivenda 48 227 1.53%SiSwati 44 967 1.43%Sign Language . 0.4%
Gender
GenderPopulation%Male 1 627 724 52.21%Female 1 550 747 47.79%
Ethnic groups
Ethnic groupPopulation%Black African 2 502 769 78.74%White 502 439 15.81%Coloured 85 910 2.70%Indian/Asian 68 058 2.14%
Education
Ekurhuleni has two school districts: Ekurhuleni North and Ekurhuleni South. There are 671 schools in Ekurhuleni, of which 137 are independent. Ekurhuleni has two colleges of further education and training (FET) as well as two centres of adult education and training (AET). The municipal government under Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina conducted a feasibility study and lobbied the national government to establish a university in Ekurhuleni which was formally announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the 2020 State of the Nation Address.
Controversies Police are investigating the R5.2 million paid for consultation work that was never done.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Crimes and Corruption On 11 November 2025, acting Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department head Julius Mkhwanazi was suspended following damning allegations at the Madlanga Commission. Witnesses from the EMPD testified and gave evidence that linked Mkhwanazi to a murder case and accused him of running a rogue unit allegedly involved in extortion, kidnapping, theft, and truck hijackings in and around Gauteng. Mkhwanazi was also mentioned to have played a major part in having Vusimuzi Matlala, a controversial businessman who is currently behind bars, sign an agreement between the EMPD and Matlala's security company, which did not follow the correct protocols.
Among others, allegations levelled against Mkhwanazi include being an accessory to a murder. This murder happened on 15 April 2022 in the Brakpan area. It is alleged that the victim was tortured on the scene was body was dumped in a dam on Mkhwananzi's instruction.
During the commission hearings, a video was shown of Mkhwananzi and the rogue unit raiding a factory in Meyerton, outside their operation boundaries. Mkhwanazi and these EMPD officers stole copper at a workshop in August 2022. Jaco Hanekom, a supervisor and whistleblower who exposed the EMPD operation at the said workshop, was later killed in March 2023 after the EMPD officers who were arrested were granted bail.
EMPD's specialised services unit, under Mkhwanazi's command is linked to a theft of a truck and its load in Putfontein, Benoni, and the kidnapping of the driver, in March 2023.
It is also alleged that Mkhwananzi and his rogue unit was involved in the Precious Stones case, which occurred in the Hillbrow-Kensington area in 2024, where police are accused of stealing precious stones worth R45-million.
Governance and politics
The governance of Ekurhuleni is set out by Chapter 7 of the Constitution of South Africa which governs the operation and function of local government in South Africa. The Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 states that the minister responsible for local government, namely the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, is responsible for the designation of municipalities. As per the act and regulations issued by the Minister, Ekurhuleni is designated as a category A municipality and is thus a metropolitan municipality. The external boundaries of the municipality and subsequently the remit of the jurisdiction of the metropolitan government is regulated by the Municipal Demarcation Board.
As of 11 April 2011, the Municipal Council approved the separation of the legislative and executive functions of the metropolitan government. Under Section 56 of the Municipal Structures Act, the Executive Mayor is responsible for directing and monitoring, and presiding over Mayoral Committee. The Mayoral Committee comprises the administrative branch of the municipality and is responsible for bringing to effect the by-laws of the Municipal Council, administering the responsibilities designated by national and provincial legislation, as well as providing for the political oversight for the functioning of the city structures. A professional civil servant known as the City Manager, is responsible for the technical and managerial direction and oversight of the municipality.
In 2014/2015, the city ranked highest out of all metros in South Africa in the Business Day Index, measuring how well cities and towns spend resident's money.