Centre of the "Ideas Revolution"
Gauteng was the stage upon which the great drama of South Africa's freedom struggle was played out, and where the peaceful transformation to democracy took place. It was here that Nelson Mandela and his colleagues acquired their political education in the 1940s and 1950s, and where their world-famous notions of leadership and democracy were formed. Gauteng has thus been at the centre of the "ideas revolution" and that tradition continues today.
Beyond Johannesburg, Pretoria / Tshwane is also a major business node but is relatively more relaxed and is pervaded by a sense of history. Church Square, around which Pretoria / Tshwane developed, was the main venue for trade, recreation and religious gatherings in the early days. Many buildings of historic and architectural importance have been retained.
Famous Diamonds
The old mining town of Cullinan developed around the Premier Diamond Mine and many of the turn-of-the-century houses still stand. The mine has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the Cullinan, at 3 106 carats the world's largest.
The Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum outside Cullinan centres around a farmstead dating from 1880. Traditional farming activities are demonstrated and annual events include a prickly pear festival, mampoer festival and the Agricultural Museum Show.