Merafong, derived from the Sesotho language meaning "The place where the gold is!" is one of the latest new consolidated municipalities in Gauteng. Situated in the heart of the richest gold mining belt in South Africa, only 75km from Johannesburg, Merafong City includes the towns of Carletonville, Fochville and Wedela, with seven gold mines situated within a radius of 10 km, providing jobs for almost 100 000 skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labourers.
The "Hub of the Golden West" spreads over 1631,07ha and is rich in tourism and cultural attractions with no less than three game reserves.
The Western Deep Levels Gold Mine - recently renamed Tautona - is the deepest mine in the world with the No 2 Shaft at a depth of 3 582 m and an ambient rock temperature at this level recorded at 131°F or 55°C.
The Merafong Rock and MineralHeritageMuseum in Fochville is a current project to capture the conserved South Africa's rock and mineral heritages. MerafongCity glitters with gold as well as diamonds - Rysmierbult Diamond Diggings, situated 15 km west of MerafongCity, are well known and guided tours are available. Tourists can choose from a variety of very high quality accommodation as well as a number of excellent restaurants.
