August 1 will mark 100 years since the establishment of Brakpan as a town.
Delving into the Herald’s archives from the year of Brakpan’s silver jubilee, the story of the town’s birth was recounted by Brakpan Member of Parliament, AE Trollip, at a celebratory “Variety Fair” event.
The article from the August 4, 1944, edition reads as follows:
“The speaker told of his personal connection with the town in the 27 that had passed since his arrival there in 1917.
“In that year, Brakpan possessed a population of 1 200 and had been a ward of Benoni.
“Even then the residents in the district had been dissatisfied with their position as a ward and with the scant attention received from the Benoni Council.
“As a result of the dissatisfaction, the citizens of the area had begun agitating for the creation of Brakpan as an independent municipality and numerous deputations had interviewed various bodies and officials with regard to the achievement of that ideal.
“The agitation had culminated in a torch-light procession in 1918 and the Administrator had finally agreed to the formation of Brakpan as an independent municipality in 1919.
Read: Take a journey into Brakpan’s past
“A nominated Council had been appointed consisting of a Chairman and six members.
“The following year, elections held in the newly created town had resulted in a Mayor and Councillors assuming office and a Town Council had begun to guide the affairs of the town.”
Twenty-five years later, Brakpan celebrated its golden jubilee with a Mardi Gras, which attracted 50 000 people to Jan Smuts Park.
Fifty years have passed and the town has reached a new milestone, one the Herald would like to acknowledge with a focus on the centenary and history of the town.
A special edition of the Herald is planned for August and we would like to hear from organisations, schools, clubs and individuals who are planning events to mark the occasion.
We would also like to hear about any residents celebrating their 100th birthday this year.
Information can be emailed to brakpanherald@caxton.co.za
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