The change in urban footprints in the municipalities of Gauteng is depicted in this graph. Click on the name of a municipality to see a map of urban land cover. Note: the analysis uses the 2006 municipal boundaries prior to the merger of Nokeng Tsa Taemane and Kungwini (Metsweding District Council) with Tshwane in 2011.
In 1991, Johannesburg was the most urbanised municipality (42% of total municipal area built-up), followed by Ekurhuleni and Tshwane (32% and 22% respectively). Between 1991 and 2001, the greatest urban development occurred in Johannesburg, where the proportion of urban land cover/use to total municipal area increased by 8,5%. Urban land cover/use in Tshwane increased by 7,5%, followed by Ekurhuleni with a 5,7%. Emfuleni also experienced significant growth with a 5% increase. In the remaining municipalities of Gauteng, urban development was less than 3%.
Between 2001 and 2009, urban development was strongest in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg with a 6,4% and 6,2% proportional increase respectively. Urban development was also significant in Tshwane with a 4,7% growth. In 2009, Johannesburg remained the most urbanised municipality, with 56% built-up area, followed by Ekurhuleni and Tshwane with a built-up area of 44% and 35% respectively. A fifth of the land in Emfuleni was urbanised in 2009; while approximately 12% of land cover/use in Mogale was urban.
