Johannesburg, the capital of Gauteng - South Africa's smallest and richest province - is the most powerful commercial centre on the African continent.
Gauteng makes up just 1,4% of South Africa's land area, but it is home to more than a fifth of the population and produces a third of the country's wealth. Gauteng is predominantly urban, consisting chiefly of industrial and mining satellite towns surrounding the twin cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital (the legislative capital is Cape Town) is itself merging into Johannesburg's outer suburbs
Johannesburg can seem overwhelming to the first-time visitor. With a relatively flat natural landscape and few natural landmarks, the city's suburbs and townships stretch as far as the eye can see. Most international visitors stick to the city's affluent northern suburbs, home to gleaming shopping malls, international hotel chains and the head offices of the country's leading economic players.
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