Kempton Park

Kempton Park is a city in Gauteng province, South Africa, situated on the East Rand approximately 20 kilometres east of Johannesburg. The city forms part of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and serves as an important industrial and commercial hub within the greater Johannesburg metropolitan area. Kempton Park is home to OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa's busiest airport and the primary gateway for international air travel to the country, which plays a central role in the city's economy and employment base. The city has a diverse economic profile encompassing manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and aviation-related services, supported by its strategic location along major transport corridors. Kempton Park's industrial base includes sectors such as food and beverage production, engineering and light manufacturing. The population is ethnically diverse, reflecting the broader demographic patterns of Gauteng's urban centres. Infrastructure development in Kempton Park has included special economic zones and industrial parks aimed at attracting investment and creating employment opportunities. The city faces challenges common to South African urban areas, including unemployment, service delivery pressures and infrastructure maintenance issues such as cable theft. Kempton Park was established in 1903 and named after a racecourse in Surrey, England, developing initially as a farming community before industrialising rapidly in the mid-twentieth century alongside the expansion of Johannesburg.