Gold is the material most South Africans associate with the mining industry. Gold production was the mainstay of South Africa’s economy for a very long time but that role is now challenged by platinum.

George Harrison discovered gold at Langlaagte in July 1886 in what is considered the first find on the main gold bearing reef. Gold had, however, been worked by South African indigenous people for many years before the arrival of the Europeans.

This early working of gold is clearly evidenced by the artefacts found at Mapungubwe where burials with gold jewellery have been dated to the mid-13th century.

Place names associated with gold:

EGoli is the isiZulu name for Johannesburg in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality of the Gauteng Province. It is derived form the word ‘goldʼ with the addition of the locative affixes E- and –i. Thus ‘place of goldʼ, ‘at the goldʼ. The name was adapted for Gauteng Province.

Gauteng is the Sesotho sa Leboa (North Sotho) and Setswana name for Johannesburg in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality of the Gauteng Province. It is an adaptation of the Afrikaans word ‘goudʼ, ‘goldʼ with the addition of the locative suffix –ng; it thus means ‘place of goldʼ, ‘at the goldʼ. The name was adapted for Gauteng Province.

Golden City is a popular name for Johannesburg in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality of the Gauteng Province was named after Johann Rissik and Christiaan Johannes Joubert. Golden City is generally believed to have been derived from the gold mines which led to its creation, the name may have originated from the description ‘Golden South Africaʼ used to designate the district.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is an area in the Dihlkabeng Local Municipality of the Free State Province close to the town of Clarens. The name is derived from twin sandstone bluffs that look golden at sunset.

Golden Valley is in the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province close to the village of Cookhouse. The area takes its name from the golden colour of the apricots and wheat fields irrigated from the Great Fish River Irrigation Works.

Goudveld (gold field) is in the Garden Route Local Municipality of the Western Cape Province near the costal resort of Knysna. This is the original area in which gold was mined in the 1870’s when it was called Millwood.  The name was changed to Goudveld in the 1960’s.

Goudvlakte (gold plain) is a township in the Merofeng City Local Municipality of the Gauteng Province about 8 km from the town of Oberholzer. The name reflects the fact that this is a gold-mining area.

The first Full Moon in April is the Diamond Moon.

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The rare Gold Moon does not occur in the period 2020–2050. In the period 2050–2200, the Gold Moon happens on 2075 Apr 30, 2094 Apr 30, 2151 Apr 30, 2170 Apr 30, and 2189 Apr 30.

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Further reading

Kingdom of Mapungubwe (Wikipedia)

Miller, D., Desai, N. & Lee-Thorp, J. (2000) Indigenous Gold Mining in Southern Africa: A Review, Vol. 8, African Naissance: The Limpopo Valley 100 Years Ago, Dece,ber, 91-99.

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Heritage Full Moons in South Africa

Month	First Full Moon	Second Full Moon
January	Mantis Moon	Leopard Moon
February	Dassie Moon	——
March	Harvest Moon	Ochre Moon
April	Diamond Moon	Gold Moon
May	Frost Moon	Fire Moon
June	Sisters Moon	Honey Moon
July	Meerkat Moon	Protea Moon
August	Peace Moon	Dusty Moon
September	Spring Moon	Blue Crane Moon
October	Whale Moon	Elephant Moon
November	Milk Moon	Wool Moon
December	Springbok Moon	Eland Moon