Gauteng, the economic powerhouse of South Africa, is the province of growth and opportunity. The name Gauteng is derived comes from a Sesotho word which means Place of Gold. The word Gauteng was the historical Sesotho name for Johannesburg after the discovery of gold in the region. Gauteng's southern border is the Vaal River, which separates it from the Free State. It also borders on North West to the west, Limpopo to the north, and Mpumalanga to the east. Gauteng is the only landlocked province of South Africa without a foreign border.
Although Gauteng is the smallest province in South Africa it is one of the most populated provinces in South Africa and is considered the economic hub of South Africa. Gauteng contributes heavily in most business sectors and plays host to a large number of overseas companies requiring a commercial base in South Africa and a gateway to Africa.
Most of Gauteng is on the Highveld, a high-altitude grassland. Between Johannesburg and Pretoria there are low parallel ridges and undulating hills, some of which form part of the Magaliesberg Mountains and the Witwatersrand. The north of the province is more subtropical, due to its lower altitude and is mostly dry savanna habitat. Most of the rainfall in Gauteng occur as brief afternoon thunderstorms in the summer and winters are crisp and dry with frost occurring often in the southern areas. Snow is very rare, but has occurred on some occasions in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.
Gauteng is growing rapidly due to mass urbanisation. This rapid growth has brought with it both opportunities and challenges. Transport is one of these challenges, and Johannesburg, as the core of Gauteng, is beginning to experience the heavy traffic problems of cities such as Los Angeles and Bangkok. The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link is an attempt to remedy this problem, by providing efficient high-speed rail between Pretoria, Sandton, Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport.
