Brits | |
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Brits as seen from Dewetsnek in the Magaliesberg
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Brits shown within North West | |
Coordinates: 25°38′4″S 27°46′52″E / 25.63444°S 27.78111°ECoordinates: 25°38′4″S 27°46′52″E / 25.63444°S 27.78111°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | North West |
District | Bojanala |
Municipality | Madibeng |
Established | 1924 |
Area | |
• Total | 114.7 km2 (44.3 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 53,511 |
• Density | 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 70.4% |
• Coloured | 3.6% |
• Indian/Asian | 2.7% |
• White | 22.3% |
• Other | 0.9% |
First languages (2011) | |
• Tswana | 28.6% |
• Afrikaans | 25.9% |
• Northern Sotho | 10.1% |
• Tsonga | 10.1% |
• Other | 25.3% |
Postal code (street) | 0250 |
PO box | 0250 |
Area code | 012 |
Brits is a large town situated in a fertile, citrus, vegetable and grain-producing area that is irrigated by the waters of the Hartbeespoort Dam in North West Province of South Africa. It is close to the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, which includes Pretoria and it has the same dialling code as Pretoria. In addition to being a centre for agriculture, the town is home to several heavy industries. A factory of the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo produced cars for the domestic market and export to Asia from 1974 to 1985. The town also plays an important role in the South African mining industry: 94% of South Africa's platinum comes from the Rustenburg and Brits districts, which together produce more platinum than any other single area in the world. In addition, there is a large vanadium mine in the district.
The Indian area in Brits is called Primindia. Brits is part of the Madibeng Local Municipality.
Brits is linked to Sandton by the R511 and to Randburg by the R512, and to Pretoria by the R513 and the R514. Freeway access is by the N4 Bakwena Toll Route, which was constructed in the early 2000s.