Editing Randfontein (section)

==History==
===Early history===
Randfontein's existence dates back to the 1550s when the [[Southern Ndebele people|AmaNdebele]] lived as one nation at Emhlangeni (today's Randfontein area) under King Mhlanga approximately between 1550 and 1580. The name of Emhlangeni is translated today into the [[Sesotho language]] as Mohlakeng, which is one of the southeastern suburbs of the town.

===Formation===
Randfontein was established formally on 3 March 1890 and proclaimed a municipality in 1929.<ref name="On01">{{cite book | title=On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region | publisher=Jonathan Ball Publishers | author=Erasmus, B.P.J. | year=2014 | pages=401 | isbn=9781920289805}}</ref>{{rp|336}}

Some important dates in Randfontein's history:

*1857: Bootha and Jonker families arrive in the area. (They owned the farm ''Groot Elandsvlei'' where the suburbs of Randgate, Loumarina, and Wilbotsdal are today.)
*1874: Gold discovered in Blaauwbank stream near Magaliesburg by Henry Lewis an Australian prospector.
*1886: Discovery of gold on the Rand by Harrison and Walker; start of the Reef gold rush.
*1886: JB Robinson arrives on the Reef; starts prospecting in the Randfontein area.
*1889: Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company (REGM) registered.
*1890: JB Robinson buys properties and farms in the Randfontein district.
*1894: The first shop, Fedlers, opens.
*1901: The first car, owned by Hector Mackay, arrives in town.
*1904: Chinese miners arrive in Randfontein.
*1929: Randfontein Municipality established; independent from Krugersdorp which managed the town from 1903.<ref name="Enc01">{{Cite book|last=Joyce|first=Peter|url=https://archive.org/details/southafricanfami0000joyc|title=The South African family encyclopaedia|date=1989|publisher=Cape Town : Struik Publishers|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-86977-887-6}}</ref>{{rp|292}}
*1979: Randfontein celebrates 50 years as an independent municipality.

===Jameson Raid===
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Remnants of the [[Jameson Raid]] (29 December 1895 – 2 January 1896) can be found in Randfontein. Various graves of those killed are scattered around the West Rand. In Randfontein, the graves of troopers William Charles Beatty-Powell, John Bernard Bletsoe, Harry Davies, John Foster, and C.E. Hennessy, are hidden amongst the trees in what was originally known as the Randfontein Estates Gold Mine Military Cemetery. The graves are beside the railway line diagonally opposite where Uncle Harry's Roadhouse is currently located at the northern entrance to town from Krugersdorp. 

Randfontein War Memorial: This really pretty memorial can be found next to the roadhouse on the corner of Randfontein and Main Reef Roads, Surprisingly the components of the memorial are all in a reasonably good condition and it is fenced off.

On 11 June 2015, a hidden graveyard with about 80 to 100 graves dating back to the 1800s was discovered near the grain silos off Main Reef Road. It's not known yet whether these are connected to the graves of the Jameson Raid.

===Kruger Millions===
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[[Paul Kruger]] and JB Robinson enjoyed a warm friendship which has led to rumours that the [[Kruger Millions]] (millions of gold coins minted for the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek, or the [[South African Republic]]) were buried in the Homestead's grounds to stop them from falling into British hands during the [[Second Boer War]]. The Homestead is the home that Robinson lived in which is now situated along Homestead Avenue next to Riebeeck Lake and owned by well-known local businessman and racing driver, Ben Morgenrood. Over the years, many have searched here for the Kruger Millions, but either nothing has been found, or the finder has kept very quiet about it.