| Benoni | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Gauteng#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -26.1883°N 28.3206°W |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Name1: | Gauteng |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Ekurhuleni |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1881 |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 175.55 |
| Elevation M: | 1645 |
| Population Total: | 158777 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 45.2% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 2.1% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 13.9% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 38.1% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.8% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | English |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 53.89% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 11% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 17.1% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Northern Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 5.3% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 17.3% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 1501 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 1500 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 011 |
Benoni is a town on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa, some 26km (16miles) east of Johannesburg, within the City of Ekurhuleni municipality.[2] [3]
Benoni was also the setting for the MTV-inspired movie Crazy Monkey: Straight Outta Benoni, released internationally in 2005.[4]
Benoni is situated towards the centre of the East Rand and lies on the urban fringe where the urban area dissolves into the smallholdings and farmland to the north. It borders on Kempton Park to the north-west, Boksburg to the west, Brakpan to the south and Daveyton to the east.
Benoni mainly encompasses a mixture of suburban areas and semi-rural acreage towards the north while the commercial central business district lies in the centre and a few industrial areas lie towards the south.
Benoni lies on the main railway line between Johannesburg and Springs and the main railway line between Johannesburg and Daveyton, both operated by Metrorail which has temporarily suspended services on these commuter lines since 2020 and have remained closed due to vandalism on these lines.[5] [6]
Prior to 2020, Metrorail operated services on the Johannesburg-Springs line from Benoni to Johannesburg, Germiston, Boksburg, Brakpan and Springs. Benoni is served by three Metrorail railway stations on the Johannesburg-Springs line including: Benoni station, New Kleinfontein station and Apex station.[7]
Prior to 2020, Metrorail operated services on the Johannesburg-Daveyton line from Benoni to Johannesburg, Germiston and Boksburg. Benoni is served by three Metrorail railway stations on the Johannesburg-Daveyton line including: Avenue station, Northmead station and Van Ryn station.
The N12 is the major freeway that runs through Benoni. It enters the town from Boksburg and Johannesburg in the west, bisecting the town and bypassing the CBD to its immediate north before heading east towards eMalahleni.
The R23 runs north-south from Kempton Park towards Brakpan and Heidelberg and runs through the CBD as Tom Jones Street (southbound) and Bunyan Street (northbound). The R29 runs east-west from Springs towards Boksburg and runs through the CBD as Ampthill Avenue (westbound) and Princess Avenue (eastbound). The R51 runs north-south from Bapsfontein, just outside Benoni towards Springs and barely by-passes Benoni to the east.
Benoni is also served by three metropolitan routes linking it to surrounding towns and cities in the East Rand. The M43 links Benoni with Kempton Park to the north-west and Vosloorus to the south-west. The M44 links Benoni with Boksburg to the west. The M45 links Benoni with Kempton Park to the north-west. The M53 links Benoni with Boksburg to the west and Brakpan to the south.
| Notes: | Granted by the College of Arms, 6 March 1938.[13] |
| Escutcheon: | Or a turreted castle of three storeys Sable on a chief Sable three escallops Argent all within a bordure Gules charged with four bezants and four heraldic fountains alternately. |
| Crest: | In front of a sun rising Or an arm embowed the hand grasping a sledgehammer Proper. |
| Mantling: | Or and Gules. |
| Supporters: | Two springbok Proper each gorged with a collar Azure charged with three bezants. |
| Motto: | Auspocium Melioris Aevi |