Located in north-western Johannesburg, Randburg is a sought-after, leafy middle class city with large family homes, gated communities, residential complexes and eprovinces. Popular Randburg suburbs include Randpark Ridge, Olivedale, Northriding and Blairgowrie, which are all great places to raise a family and enjoy a safe and relaxing life. Ferndale is the main business district and is home to the Multichoice headquarters, SARS, several businesses and small law firms. Natural attractions include Delta Park, Emmarentia Dam, the botanical gardens and the Northcliff Water Tower which offers a panoramic view of the entire city. Cresta, Northgate and Ferndale on Republic are the 3 main shopping centres, offering residents everything they need. Randburg is home to excellent government and private schools such as Blairgowrie Primary and Randpark High, two great private hospitals Olivedale and Sandton Clinic as well as a government clinic in the CBD.

History

Randburg was officially recognized as a town in 1959. It encompassed 32 fast-growing suburbs and was named after the South African currency, which was fairly new at the time. It was a historically white area during the apartheid era but is now much more ethnically diverse. The city of Randburg has always been middle class and offers residents large, standalone homes with big gardens, as well as gated communities, residential complexes and eprovinces.

Main Randburg Suburbs

The main suburbs in Randburg include the following:

  • Blairgowrie
  • Northriding
  • Boskruin
  • Windsor East and West
  • Darrenwood
  • Aldara Park
  • Fairlands
  • Bordeaux
  • Bromhof
  • Olivedale
  • Cresta
  • Ferndale
  • Randpark Ridge
  • Jukskei Park
  • Kensington “B”
  • Northwold
  • Malanshof
  • Robindale
  • Robin Hills

Blairgowrie is a popular suburb for families as it is quiet, safe and boasts spacious houses with large gardens.

Northriding is fast-developing and has plenty of new developments with a country feel to it.

Ferndale is Randburg’s CBD and is home to the Multichoice head office, SARS, Randburg Mall and numerous small and medium-sized businesses.

The cosmopolitan Cresta area is always bustling, with Cresta Mall being its main attraction.

Jukskei Park is situated on the banks on the Klein Jukskei River, while Randpark Ridge is higher up and offers impressive views over the city.

Local Attractions and Landmarks

There is no shortage of things to do in Randburg. Locals enjoy its many parks and Jacaranda trees which come into bloom in the spring.

The area boasts two beautiful dams – Darrenwood Dam and Emmarentia Dam- which are both favourites for sailing, dog walking and picnics over the weekend. The botanical gardens alongside Emmarentia Dam offers a diverse range of plants and a pretty rose garden.

Delta Park is another popular attraction, with several acres of rolling fields, birdlife, braai areas and a sophisticated play park for children.

The iconic Northcliff Water Tower gives visitors a panoramic view of Randburg and beyond and is a great location for watching the sunset or a relaxing stroll.

Schools and Hospitals

Randburg is a great choice for those wanting to take advantage of some of the best government schools in Johannesburg. Blairgowrie Primary, Rand Park High and IR Griffiths Primary School are just a few examples, but there are many excellent private schools in the area, too.

Damelin College is a popular tertiary institution offering a wide range of diplomas and certificates.

There are two large, private hospitals in Randburg: Sandton Clinic and Olivedale Clinic. Both are highly regarded throughout Gauteng and offer many specialists, operating theatres and beds.

A good government clinic can be found in the Randburg CBD.

Shopping and Other Amenities

Randburg residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping. The newly-built Ferndale on Republic has everything you need, while older malls like Northgate Shopping Mall, Cresta and Randburg Mall are also very popular and feature all the major chain stores, movie theatres and more.

For a quieter experience, there are plenty of smaller and unique centres scattered around Randburg.

All major roads in Randburg are along the Gautrain bus route. The N1 highway runs through Randburg, giving easy access to the rest of Johannesburg.

Businesses

Randburg is home to the DSTV head office and a large SARS branch. There are numerous medium to small sized businesses who have taken advantage of the reasonable property prices and rentals that can be found in the area.