Edenvale, Gauteng

Edenvale is a town on the East Rand in Gauteng, South Africa. Modern Edenvale has become a very well known part of Ekurhuleni. It lies about halfway between the O.R. Tambo International Airport and the Johannesburg city centre and is located 12km by road from Sandton and about 9km from the closest Gautrain station.HistoryIt started out in 1903, after the Anglo Boer War as a small settlement named Rietfontein which sprung up around the Rietfontein Gold Mine. It was made a municipality in 1942. It was initially populated by Cornish mineworkers.DemographicsEdenvale is a very quiet town which ranges from the middle class areas such as Eastleigh and Croyden to the upper class areas such as Dowerglen and Eden Glen. Much of that has changed as it has been widely diversified by Southern African foreigners, mainly: Zimbabweans, Zambians and Malawians. It also hosts a large population of Portuguese and Italian inhabitants.EconomyRetailIn the recent five to six years the area to the north of Edenvale has expanded significantly. Two malls have been erected, Greenstone and Stoneridge mall, as well as an array of complexes and townhouses, in an area now called Greenstone Hill and Greenstone Park, just above Illiondale. This recent, yet rapid influx of infrastructure and added commercial business has bankrupted businesses in Van Riebeeck avenue forcing numerous store owners to liquidate their capital investments.