Benoni (G9)

Name:Benoni

Benoni, meaning 'son of my sorrow' in Hebrew, is situated just 45kms from the vast city of Johannesburg. Benoni is far less urban than the 'city of gold', ...
www.chateaudespalmes.co.za/en/benoni.html

Google count:387,000 for Benoni.
Date: 25 July 2008

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Benoni, East Rand: Benoni is a large suburb situated on the East Rand in the South African province of Gauteng. The area forms part of the Greater Johannesburg region, and since 2000 has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

Benoni's ominous beginnings started in 1881 when the surveyor-general of the time, known as Johan Rissik, found it difficult to assign title deeds to all unclaimed state property. He named the area Benoni, meaning son of my sorrows, after the name given by Rachel to her son in the biblical Book of Genesis. In September 1887, gold was discovered and the Chimes Mine was established by Cornishmen. Sir George Farrar, the chairman of a mining company, undertook the beautification of the rapidly growing mining town in 1904. Minewater was channeled into a band of marshland, and reservoirs stocked with vibrant fish were created. Today these beautiful reservoirs remain and the area is dotted with many lakes where people fish, boat and relax. Thousands of trees were also planted in the new suburbia and it achieved municipal status in 1907. During the 1990's Benoni was the site for the WOMAD Festival (the World of Music, Arts and Dance), an international cultural festival held annually around the world and used to showcase various artists.
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