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Nigel, an East Rand Mining Town

The Town of Nigel began as a gold Mining Town in the late 1800's. It was named after a book the Prospector, (which is a person who searches for mineral deposits)-Sir Walter Scott, happened to be reading at the time. This books name was: 'The Fortunes of Nigel'. This Town is directly South of Springs and Brakpan and lies in what is known as the East Rand, South East of Johannesburg. Whilst there Gold Mines have recently been closed, the Industrial Area of the Town is responsible for the manufacturing of the Gautrain Rail Cars. Theses were dispatched from the Industrial Area of Nigel, in 2008. Electricity Hardware and Towers are still manufactured here. They then distribute these specialty transformers; electric motors, generators and motor-generator sets, switchgear and switchboard apparatus, relays and industrial controls. The Marievale Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Southern half of the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site, or Wetland Area. It is also a designated Important Bird Area in South Africa. Blesbokspruit is the only Ramsar Wetland in the Gauteng Province. It is situated 4 km outside Nigel, the Highveld Town is at an altitude of 1,585 m. RAMSAR Sites are Wetlands of International importance, that have been designated under the criteria of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for protecting rare or unique Wetland types or for conserving biological diversity. (This convention was held in India, hence the name!) The Marievale Bird Sanctuary is about 10 km2 in size and comprises numerous, large, shallow water bodies dominated by tall, at times dense stands of emergent vegetation consisting mainly of Phragmites, Typha and Juncus reeds. (These types of Reed are used to encourage microorganisms growth and treat wastewater!)
Geolocation
-26° 25' 29.1783", 28° 27' 53.7192"
References
http://www.nigel.co.za/marievale/ https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/nigel.php
Further Reading
https://www.ramsar.org/ http://www.saramsar.com/2015/04/blesbokspruit.html https://www.facebook.com/places/107524102610534/ http://www.nigel.co.za/marievale/ https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200020018x https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/ramsar-convention/#:~:text=Ramsar%20Sites%20are%20wetlands%20of,importance%20in%20conserving%20biological%20diversity. https://brandsouthafrica.com/107550/gautrain-171008/ https://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/marievale.php

Sodwana Bay National Park

Sodwana Bay National Park offers Africa's Southern most, Coral Reefs and outstanding Climate. Sodwana Bay is one of the World's premier sport diving destinations. This South African Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal features various popular dive sites with a great diversity of underwater seascapes, marine flora and fauna, corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom rocks. Spectacular night dives have made this a not-to-be-missed destination for the scuba diving enthusiast. Sodwana Bay National Park is situated within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

This iSimangaliso Wetland Park was South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, recognized for its superlative natural beauty, ecological processes and biodiversity covers 3320 Square Kilometers and includes a Coastline of 230 km! Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is the Provincial Agency mandated to carry out biodiversity Conservation and associated activities in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The primary focus of the organisation is biodiversity Conservation - the management of more than 120 protected Areas which include two World Heritage Sites which are the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site and the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, World Heritage Site.

The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife administration model has been shown to work well whereby the eco-tourism operations provide financial support for conservation operations. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s (Ezemvelo) mandate is derived from the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act (Act No.9 of 1997), which is to direct the management of Nature conservation within the Province including Protected Areas. This includes the development and promotion of ecotourism facilities within the Protected Areas. With its headquarters at Queen Elizabeth Park in Pietermaritzburg, the Provincial Capital, Ezemvelo manages more than 120 Protected Areas and is the leader in sustainable biodiversity conservation. It has recently broadened its focus to become more relevant to communities living adjacent to their Parks - primarily through job creation and sustainable natural resource harvesting. The organisation as a whole is the offspring of a merger between two conservation bodies: the former Natal Parks Board which was formed in 1947 and whose antecedents go back into colonial times; and the former KwaZulu Directorate of Nature Conservation which was formed in 1972 to manage the nature conservation requirements of the "Homeland" of KwaZulu. Following the Democratic elections in 1994 both organisations negotiated a mutual amalgamation which resulted in the formation of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Board, with its entire operation conducted as KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Services.

Geolocation
-27° 33' 14.4", 32° 37' 51.6"
References
https://www.nature-reserve.co.za/sodwana-bay-national-park.html http://www.kznwildlife.com/about.html#availability http://www.kznwildlife.com/about.html#description

Benoni, Ekurhuleni Municipality

Benoni is situated on the East Rand, in the South African Province of Gauteng. The Area forms part of the Greater Johannesburg Region. Since 2000 has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. Benoni began in 1881 when the Surveyor-General of the time, known as Johan Rissik, found it difficult to assign title deeds to all unclaimed State Property. He named the Area Benoni meaning son of my sorrows, after the Hebrew name given by Rachel to her son, (in the Biblical Book of Genesis.) In September 1887, Gold was discovered at the Chimes Mine. This mine was then established by men from England. Sir George Farrar, the Chairman of a Mining Company, undertook the beautification of the rapidly growing Mining Town in, 1904. The Mine water was channeled into a band of Marshlands and Reservoirs stocked with vibrant fish were created. Today these beautiful Reservoirs remain in the Area where people can fish, boat and relax.

Thousands of trees were also planted in the new Suburb and it achieved Municipal status in 1907. During the 1990's Benoni was the site for the WOMAD Festival (the World of Music, Arts and Dance), an International Cultural festival held annually around the World and used to showcase various artists. Founded by Peter Gabriel, who is a British musician and was lead singer of the progressive rock band 'Genesis'!

Today, Benoni is very diverse, with people of every colour and denomination living there. Over time, Gold Mining has decreased in importance. Today the Town is focused more on Industry and services and is used as a marketplace that accesses consumers to find service providers around them. This is also for the other Towns in the East Rand. Such as Brakpan, Nigel and Springs. Benoni also has a Heliport Site, for the use of Helicopters. When visiting Benoni, one can enjoy a visit to the local Museum, enjoy superb picnics by the many Lakes or Shop at the Lakeside Shopping Mall or Northmead Square Mall. The Lakeside Shopping Mall was built in the shape of a Mississippi Steamboat on one of the Lakes. The Northmead Square is known as the first Shopping Centre to bring Cinemas, back to Benoni. Near to Northmead Square is the Bunny Park boasting hundreds of gorgeous rabbits as well as other small animals and is aimed at entertaining children. For the sport lovers, visit the Willowmoore Park which is a Provincial and One Day International Cricket Venue. The World famous Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron was born in Benoni! Benoni was also the setting for the MTV-inspired, popular cult movie known as: "Straight Outta Benoni", released Internationally in 2005. Benoni contains numerous attractive and tree-lined Suburbs, quite unlike many other East Rand Towns, which tend to be more Industrialized.

Geolocation
-26° 9' 7.2", 28° 18' 54"
References
https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/benoni.php https://womadsa.co.za/

Hellenic Football Club, Pretoria/Cape Town

Hellenic Football Club, is a South African Association Football Club based these days, in Cape Town. They are nicknamed: "The Greek Gods". Established in 1958 by Greek South Africans. Hellenic competed in the lower amateur leagues, of Cape Town. But by the 1970's they were one of the leading teams in the Country and regularly pulled in crowds of more than 20,000. They were champions in 1971 and runners-up in 1972 and 1975. Hellenic reached the final of the Cup competition. (then widely known as Castle Cup) in 1976. They lost 2–0 to 'Cape Town City'. In 1994, Hellenic lost the final of the NSL/PSL League Cup, then known as the: "Coca-Cola Cup". In 1972 Hellenic attracted a number of German Internationals who were barred from playing in Clubs associated with FIFA due to their involvement in a match fixing scandal. In early 2004, the Club's Franchise was sold by the Greek owners to the Ndlovu family who renamed it: "Premier United". In 2007 they relocated the Club to Benoni-Gauteng and renamed themselves: "Thanda Royal Zulu Football Club".

In 2011, the Hellenic Franchise took over the former 'Blaauwberg City Football Club', based in Milnerton-Cape Town. The Club was placed under the management of Mark Byrne. Byrne was looking to revive the quality of the 1970's, to become one of the best Youth Development Clubs, in the Country. In 2013, the Club acquired a SAB League Franchise, (which is in the South African 4th Division). In August 2016, the Club announced that they had sold their SAFA Second Division Franchise. This enabled them to achieve their aim of being the number one in Youth Structure, in Cape Town." Formerly at Home at the Green Point Stadium, Hellenics base these days, is a Football Club in Milnerton, Cape Town.

Geolocation
-25° 45' 3.6", 28° 14' 9.6"
References
https://safatshwane.org.za/ https://dbpedia.org/page/Hellenic_F.C.

PLACES

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Grey Street, Durban City Centre

Not too many people are aware that Durban has the largest concentration of Indian people outside of India! Originally brought in during the 1860’s by the British as indentured workers for the sugar cane plantations, many chose to remain after their 4 year contracts had ended and brought their families over from India to Durban and started their new lives as store owners and artisans. Some of the oldest remaining Indian shops and stores in Durban are in Grey Street (now Dr Yusaf Dadoo Street)  complex and even today are still bustling and energetic.



Umhlanga, Durban

The history of Umhlanga Rocks is really interesting. Umhlanga Rocks was initially home to San hunter-gatherers and was later occupied by Nguni-speaking people who were united under King Shaka in the early 1800's into the proud Zulu nation. The Umhlanga Area came under British control soon after, becoming part of the large Estate belonging to the great sugar magnate, Sir Marshall Campbell. uMhlanga derives its name from the Zulu language and means "place of reeds", referring to the beds of reeds growing along the Ohlanga River North of uMhlanga Rocks.

The Oyster Box, a luxury Hotel since the 1950's was built as a Beach Cottage in 1869, before the Town had even been founded. The Oyster Lodge, was built overlooking the Sea and tea and scones were served to passers-by in the true spirit of Umhlanga hospitality. This Beach Cottage had a reflective roof which was also used as a beacon by passing ships for captains to navigate safely around the very dangerous, Rocky Headland! Then only in 1954, Umhlanga's red and white Lighthouse was built to warn ships away from the dangers of the rocks. The first Hotel, The Umhlanga Rocks Hotel, was built in the 1920’s and The' Oysterbox' Hotel was built on the site next to the lighthouse' earlier in 1947. Umhlanga Rocks bloomed and other many other Hotels soon followed. Umhlanga became the most sought after Area for locals to go on holiday as well as to set up residence. Umhlanga and La Lucia together with their suburbs of Umgeni Park, Glenashley, Somerset Park, Sunningdale and Prestondale have a unique ambience.

The new addition of the City Centre on the Ridge with its large Gateway Shopping Centre and Umhlanga Hospital. It's the beautiful Beaches and vibrant atmosphere, draw travellers back to Umhlanga Yearly! The chic Suburb in KwaZulu-Natal (a 20-minute drive from Durban City Centre) boasts an incredible range of exciting shopping locations, a variety of trendy eateries, a charming coastline, beautiful green spaces and fun activities. For the serious golfers there are many beautiful golf courses all within a 15 minute drive of Umhlanga. Umhlanga is also a paradise for the romantically inclined and is a wonderful place to honeymoon. Umhlanga Rocks is just a 30 minute drive on the N2 north from Durban International Airport and situated on the Northern Beaches, just 16 km from the Centre of Durban. The Umhlanga Rocks coastline enjoys a warm subtropical climate. Summer ranges from Nov - Feb and temperatures are hot and humid, from 24 - 33 degrees Celsius, and Winter which ranges from June – August is between 12 and 22 degrees Celsius. Umhlanga's Sea temperatures vary from 25 degrees in Summer to 18 degrees in Winter, which allows for all year round swimming. The average rainfall for the year is in the order of 900mm which occurs mainly during Spring and early Summer.

Geolocation
-27° 43' 58.8", 31° 4' 51.6"
References
https://umhlangarockstourism.co.za/ https://www.travelstart.co.za/blog/things-to-do-in-umhlanga/#:~:text=It's%20the%20beautiful%20beaches%20and,green%20spaces%20and%20fun%20activities. http://www.kznnorthhappenings.co.za/umhlanga_rocks_homepage.htm

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