121,536; but this figure excludes the black township of Thokoza, which has a population of 105,827. Geography Alberton lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level on the banks of the Natal Spruit, approximately 11 km south-east of Johannesburg, 59 km south of Pretoria and 49 km north-east of Vereeniging. Organisationally and administratively, it is included in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. Alberton is bordered by the city of Germiston to the north-east, the townships of Thokoza and Katlehong to the east, and the city of Johannesburg to the west and north-west. Cityscape The city's initial centre of development was in the area now known as Alberton North or 'Old' Alberton. The original black settlement in Alberton was in the area of the Alberton Dam. During the apartheid era, inhabitants were moved to the surrounding black townships and a 'white' suburb was established around the dam and named Verwoerdpark, after former prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd. Over the years, development sprawled out into adjacent areas, and today Alberton is made up of 19 suburbs stretching over an area of 77 km2. The city, as per South African in whole, is no longer segregated although surrounding black townships (which are now also not exclusively black) still remain. Suburbs Alberante Albertsdal Alberton North Alrode Brackendowns Brackenhurst Eden Park Florentia General Albertspark Mayberry Park Meyersdal New Redruth Newmarket Park Palm Ridge Raceview Randhart South Crest Sky City Thokoza Verwoerdpark Alrode, which is Alberton's industrial suburb, was established in 1943. One of the most notable industries to be established in the town during this time was CJ Fuchs (Pty) Ltd. Venturing into the production of domestic electrical appliances under licence from the American company Westing House Electric International, the business was relocated from central Johannesburg to a newly built, modern factory in Alrode in 1948. Until the mid-seventies, CJ Fuchs (Pty) Ltd would continue to grow into a multi-million Rand operation, employing thousands of people in several subsidiary companies within the group. After Carl Fuchs' death in April 1976, the company was sold to the then Barlow Rand. In 1973, he was also the first to be admitted as a Freeman of the Town of Alberton. The construction of the Alberton Boulevard was a major development started in the late 1980s with the aim of converting a section of Voortrekker Road that runs past the Alberton City Shopping Mall into a pedestrian-friendly zone.