Krugersdorp

Krugersdorp is a small town west of Johannesburg. Named after President Paul Kruger, it was founded in 1887 on Paardekraal farm ('horse corral') as an administrative centre for the public gold diggings proclaimed in the area.

Two years later the government granted 800 British pounds for trees to be planted in the municipality, and today Krugersdorp still has many shady trees and attractive parks, despite being a hub for local industry.

Bringing Krugersdorp global recognition are the nearby fossil hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai, which have recently been collectively proclaimed a World Heritage Site.

Apart from the fossils of extinct animals and birds found in these sites, a discovery was made in 1947 that made front-page news. This was the skull of a hominid of about 2 million years ago, which was hailed as the missing link between man and ape. It is known as Mrs Ples (short for Plesianthropus transvaalensis).

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