MUNICIPAL
NEWS THE CITY OF HUMAN ORIGINS AND MORE The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is arguably the world’s best place to discover your roots. But there is so much more to Mogale City HUMAN ORIGINS, meandering rivers, the vast Magaliesburg mountain range, tranquil countryside, vibrant townships, and the conveniences of urban life – Mogale City boasts it all, a whole lot of living where life began. Offering sunny climate almost all year-round, and while it has all modern comforts such as first-class hotels and lodges, African cuisine, and excellent infrastructure, it is the spectacular scenery and enjoining tranquility that gives this area its country charm. Mogale City is an easy 30-minute drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria, 20 minutes from Lanseria International Airport, and a 60-minute drive from OR Tambo International Airport. The city’s main town of Krugersdorp is perfectly situated to explore Gauteng, equidistant to Johannesburg and Pretoria (Tshwane), and on the route to Rustenburg and the Pilanesberg in North West Province.
Cradle of Humankind Visitor Centre, Maropeng
made by the chief and his people was long ignored, but in 2001 their status was restored with the renaming of the municipality from Krugersdorp Local Council to Mogale City, in recognition of this City’s rich history. Human origins and More
The area has a rich history and culture that will interest any visitor. Mogale City is named after Mogale wa Mogale, who took over the Po Chiefdom following the death of his father in the 1820s at the hands of Mzilikazi’s warriors. The Batswana ba Po was one of the original tribes that inhabited the region. They were miners and traders of gold, with links to other people across the continent. The contribution
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Municipal Focus
Now a universally accepted fact that it is the continent of Africa that is the birthplace of our human species. This is the place where our collective umbilical cord lies buried – in the soil of this great continent, the Cradle of all humankind. Nowhere else on Earth but in the City of Human Origins does there exist such definitive and conclusive proof of our common origin as a species and thus of our common destiny.
Located in the western quadrant of Mogale City, the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. This site holds global significance as it contains a superbly preserved record of the various stages in the evolution of humankind over 3.5 million years. This 53 000-hectare area offers far more than heritage, with over 400 diverse tourism offerings ranging from adventure, wining and dining, spending the night, wildlife wonders, a platter of wedding venues, premier cycling and much more. Maropeng – the Official Visitor Centre to The Cradle of Humankind and the Sterkfontein Caves provides