About Germiston

Germiston grew up around gold, founded in 1886 as mining camps sprang up on the East Rand, and it remains home to the Rand Refinery, the largest single gold refining operation in the world. The town became a major railway junction for the Witwatersrand, and its industrial character is still visible in the factories and marshalling yards that ring the older city centre. Germiston Lake, created from a disused mine pit, now anchors a public recreation area used for boating, picnics and running events. Today the town sits within the City of Ekurhuleni, wedged between Johannesburg and the OR Tambo airport corridor, giving it an unusually dense mix of heavy industry, aviation (via nearby Rand Airport) and residential suburbs like Bedfordview.

Aviation enthusiasts can head to Rand Airport for the Rand Airshow at the end of August, one of Germiston's biggest spectator draws. Food and community events follow close behind, with The Old School Picnic unfolding at Germiston Lake in early September. Culture takes centre stage later that month when the Italian Sporting Club hosts Sagra 2026: Italian Festival, celebrating local Italian heritage. Runners can also lace up for the Balwin Run Series Jeppe 2026 through Starting Line Gauteng race, while medical professionals gather for MedFest 2026 at a venue on Concorde Road.