The city was founded in 1886, after gold was discovered. The first Jewish settlers came from Britain and central Europe. They were followed by Jews from eastern Europe, primarily Lithuania. Today, the Jewish population is about 55,000, the largest in South Africa.
Encyclopedia Judaica, CD-Rom Edition, Keter Publishing
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/South_Africa.html#Johannesburg%20Community
Copyright © 2005 Edward Victor