Should one drive out of Johannesburg eastwards along the N12 highway, a famous landmark is passed at the Snake Road exit, known as Benoni’s mountain or more accurately the Kleinfontein Mine Dump. The Dump has been standing tall (92 metres) for over 90 years but will soon only be a memory as it is being reclaimed for the estimated 3 ½ tons of gold that it contains. For many it is an eyesore and good riddance, but others will be sad to see it go.
Benoni's Mountain (Google Maps)
Johannesburg is famous for being the only major city not built on a body of water yet it has a reef – the Main Reef, which stretches from Randfontein in the west, to Springs in the east, a distance of nearly 60 miles (96 km). The Main Reef was the gold bearing ore body that George Harrison stubbed his toe on in 1886 which gave rise to Johannesburg (click here for more details).
Over a period of 90 years (1886 to 1976) gold was being actively mined from underground workings, which left a trail of mine dumps stretching along the length of the Main Reef.
On coming to South Africa in 1975 I would often travel along the Main Reef Road, on a winter Saturday afternoon, to play an “away” game of rugby at ERPM Boksburg, Rand Leases, Roodepoort or West Rand, Krugersdorp and on...
