Bekkersdal, Gauteng

Bekkersdal
Mounted police in Bekkersdal, ahead of the 2014 election
Bekkersdal Show map of Gauteng Bekkersdal Show map of South Africa Bekkersdal Show map of Africa  Bekkersdal shown within Gauteng
Coordinates: 26°16′S 27°42′E / 26.267°S 27.700°E / -26.267; 27.700Coordinates: 26°16′S 27°42′E / 26.267°S 27.700°E / -26.267; 27.700
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
District	West Rand
Municipality	[[Rand West City Local Municipality Local Municipality|Rand West City Local Municipality]]
Area
• Total	27.90 km2 (10.77 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	47,213
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	98.2%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.1%
• Other	1.1%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	30.5%
• Sotho	19.3%
• Tswana	16.0%
• Tsonga	13.9%
• Other	20.3%
Postal code (street)	1779
PO box	1772

Bekkersdal is a township situated 7 km east of Westonaria and 14 km south of Randfontein in the Gauteng province. It was established in 1945, to house Africans who worked in town and at the surrounding gold mines. In 1983 the township was granted municipal status. The township was the site of violent protests ahead of the general elections on 7 May 2014.