The R104 is a
regional route in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
that is the designation for some of the old sections of roads that were previously the
N4, prior to upgrading. It connects
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
with
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions Europe
* Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
in
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
via
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is a town 50 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa along the N4 highway towards Witbank. It also includes three townships called Zithobeni, Rethabiseng and Ekangala. On 18 May 2011, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality ...
and
Witbank
Witbank (), officially Emalahleni, is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the Emalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for "white ridge", and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wago ...
. It also connects
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
with
Rustenburg
Rustenburg (; , Afrikaans and Dutch: ''City of Rest'') is a city at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Rustenburg is the most populous city in North West province, South Africa (549,575 in 2011 and 626,522 in the 2016 census). In 2017 ...
in the
North West
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
province via
Hartbeespoort
Hartbeespoort, informally also known as "Harties", is a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain and the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The name of the town means "gateway of th ...
and
Mooinooi
Mooinooi is a platinum and palladium mining town in the North West province of South Africa, roughly halfway between Brits and Rustenburg.
Formerly a boomtown
A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economi ...
.
The R104 is also made up of a road in
Nelspruit
Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
(Mbombela) which was previously part of the N4 national route. As the N4 bypasses the central part of the city to the north on a newer highway (opened on 13 June 2010
), the old short road through Nelspruit central (Samora Machel Drive) is now designated as the R104.
Route
Mpumalanga
The R104 route begins just west of Wonderfontein in
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
(east of
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions Europe
* Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
), at an intersection with the
N4 national route (
Maputo Corridor The Maputo Corridor is a major trade corridor which connects the Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa with Maputo, which is a port and the capital of Mozambique.
The corridor comprises roads - including the N4 toll road (from ...
) (
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
-
Maputo
Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the Capital city, capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a popul ...
Highway). It heads west for about 50 km to reach Middelburg, where it meets the
N11 national route from the south just before the Eastdene suburb, which marks the end of the first section.
The R104 designation is used again in
Witbank
Witbank (), officially Emalahleni, is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the Emalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for "white ridge", and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wago ...
(eMalahleni), from the Witbank Long Distance Taxi Rank (at the western end of the town centre), at a junction with the
R544 coming from Verena and the
R555 coming from
Middelburg Middelburg may refer to:
Places and jurisdictions Europe
* Middelburg, Zeeland, the capital city of the province of Zeeland, southwestern Netherlands
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg, a former Catholic diocese with its see in the Zeeland ...
. The R104 starts as the road to the south-west from the taxi rank (Diederichs Street). It then enters the Schoongezicht suburb, where it crosses to the south of the N4 Highway as Kaldine Drive, turns west and bypasses Witbank Primary School as Collins Avenue.
It continues westwards, bypassing
KwaGuqa
KwaGuqa is a township west of the industrial town of eMalahleni in the South African province of Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhos ...
(where it makes a right and left turn) and remains south of the
N4 Highway up to
Balmoral, at the northern terminus of the
R545, where it goes back to being north of the N4 Highway. It crosses into
Gauteng
Gauteng ( ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name in Sotho-Tswana languages means 'place of gold'.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts for only ...
Province just after.
Gauteng
The entire Gauteng section of the R104 is in the
City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (also known as the City of Tshwane) () is the metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of northern Gauteng Province, South Africa. The Metropolitan area is centred on the city of Pr ...
. Into Gauteng, the R104 remains north of and parallel to the N4 Highway and remains one road westwards for 75 kilometres, through
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is a town 50 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa along the N4 highway towards Witbank. It also includes three townships called Zithobeni, Rethabiseng and Ekangala. On 18 May 2011, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality ...
(where it meets the
R25 Route and the
R513 Route), meeting the
R568 and the
R515 routes, bypassing
Mamelodi
Mamelodi, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township set up by the then apartheid government northeast of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Etymology
"Mamelodi" is the name derived from the Sepedi word with the prefix bei ...
, to reach Pretoria Central.
In
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...
, after flying-over the
N1/
N4 Highway co-signage (
Pretoria Eastern Bypass) as Pretoria Street, it continues as Stanza Bopape Street (formerly Church Street
) up to the
M3 junction, where it becomes Helen Joseph Street (formerly Church Street
) through the Central Business District. It goes around
Church Square before becoming WF Nkomo Street (formerly Church Street
) and intersecting with the
R101 Route. In
Pretoria West
Pretoria West is a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa, situated from the city centre. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 11,535 (1,869.99 per km²).
Notable companies
Notable companies based in Pretoria West include:
* Pre ...
, from the junction with the
R55 Route
The R55 is a north-south provincial route in Gauteng, South Africa that connects Sandton with Pretoria. It passes Woodmead, Kyalami, Olievenhoutbosch, Heuweloord, Sunderland Ridge, Erasmia, Laudium/Claudius, West Park, the Daspoort Tunnel ...
westwards, the R104 route is south of and parallel to the
M4 Magalies Toll Route for 20 km up to its end at the Pelindaba Toll Plaza just south-east of
Hartbeespoort
Hartbeespoort, informally also known as "Harties", is a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain and the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The name of the town means "gateway of th ...
.
South of Flora Park (east of
Pelindaba
Pelindaba ("Pelile Ndaba", Zulu for "end of story" or "the conclusion") is South Africa's main nuclear research centre, run by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. It is situated near the Hartbeespoort Dam, approximately 33 km (22&n ...
), the R101 meets the
R511 Road at a 4-way junction. As the road westwards (Elias Motsoaledi Street
) continues to
Pelindaba
Pelindaba ("Pelile Ndaba", Zulu for "end of story" or "the conclusion") is South Africa's main nuclear research centre, run by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. It is situated near the Hartbeespoort Dam, approximately 33 km (22&n ...
and
Broederstroom
Broederstroom is a small town situated on the Daspoortrand in the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains in the North West Province (South Africa), North West Province of South Africa.
History
Settlement in the Witwatersrand, Witwatersberg, sou ...
, the R104 joins the R511 to be cosigned with it north-west from this junction, flying over the M4 Magalies Toll Route's Pelindaba Toll Plaza. At Flora Park, the R104/R511 co-signage leaves the
City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (also known as the City of Tshwane) () is the metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of northern Gauteng Province, South Africa. The Metropolitan area is centred on the city of Pr ...
and crosses into Hartbeespoort in the
North-West Province as Beethoven Street.
North West
In
Hartbeespoort
Hartbeespoort, informally also known as "Harties", is a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain and the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The name of the town means "gateway of th ...
, at the junction with Bach Street next to the Sediba Shopping Plaza in the suburb of Melodie, the R511 becomes the road northwards towards
Brits, leaving the R104 as the west-north-westerly road. After this junction, the R104 becomes Scott Street and makes up the northern border of the suburb of
Schoemansville
Hartbeespoort, informally also known as "Harties", is a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, situated on slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain and the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam. The name of the town means "gateway of t ...
. West of Schoemansville, the R104 crosses the
Hartbeespoort Dam
Hartbeespoort Dam (also known as ''Harties'') is an arch type dam situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It lies in a valley to the south of the Magaliesberg mountain range and north of the Witwatersberg mountain range, about 35 kil ...
wall on the
Crocodile River as a bridge in which only vehicles going one direction can cross at a time (using a traffic light system), before reaching a 4-way junction in the suburb of Damdoryn.
At this intersection, the R104 continues westwards, passing the
Elephant Sanctuary of Hartbeespoort. After a few kilometres, it meets a road heading northwards towards
Brits before continuing west towards Mooinooi.
From Hartbeespoort, going past
Mooinooi
Mooinooi is a platinum and palladium mining town in the North West province of South Africa, roughly halfway between Brits and Rustenburg.
Formerly a boomtown
A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economi ...
, the R104 is parallel to and south of the N4 Highway (which is now called the
Platinum Highway
The Platinum Highway is part of the N4, and a major South African highway built under concessions with a private contractor. In 2001, the project was voted Infrastructure Deal of the Year by Project Finance International Magazine. It took eight ye ...
). At
Kroondal
Kroondal is a village situated in North West Province of South Africa with a large German speaking community. It lies on the N4 road.
The village originated from a farm in existence since 1843, initially known as ''Kronendal'', on which a missi ...
(just before Rustenburg), the R104 goes north of the Platinum Highway and makes a left and right turn before making a direct line for
Rustenburg
Rustenburg (; , Afrikaans and Dutch: ''City of Rest'') is a city at the foot of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Rustenburg is the most populous city in North West province, South Africa (549,575 in 2011 and 626,522 in the 2016 census). In 2017 ...
. It meets the north-western end of the
R24 Road from
Magaliesburg
Magaliesburg is a small town situated below the Witwatersrand mountain range in Gauteng, South Africa. The Magaliesberg mountain range is north and visible from town, hence the name "Magaliesburg". The mountains themselves are named after Kgosi ...
,
Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp (Afrikaans for ''Kruger's Town'') is a mining city in the West Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa founded in 1887 by Marthinus Pretorius. Following the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, a need arose for a major town in the west ...
and
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...
, before becoming the main route through Rustenburg Central and meeting the southern terminus of the
R510 Road. After the Tlhabane suburb, the R104 meets the southern terminus of the
R565 Road before ending where it meets the N4 (eastbound only).
R104 (Nelspruit)
![N4 Route entering the city of Nelspruit, South Africa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/N4_Route_entering_the_city_of_Nelspruit%2C_South_Africa.jpg)
As there is a northern bypass which was built around Nelspruit (
Mbombela
Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, east of Johannesburg and north ...
) (continuous highway; off-ramp junctions only) in the
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
Province for the
N4 National Route (opened on 13 June 2010
), the old 17km section of road through Mbombela Central (Samora Machel Drive) has been designated as the R104.
References
External links
Routes Travel Info
{{Regional Routes in Gauteng
Regional Routes in Gauteng
Regional Routes in Mpumalanga
Regional Routes in North West (South African province)