The R566 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 connects
Brits with
Pretoria North
Pretoria North ( af, Pretoria-Noord) is a suburb of the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, with a population of 16,972 people according to the South African National Census of 2011, 2011 census.
Pretoria North was first settled in 1878 by a ...
via
Ga-Rankuwa
Ga-Rankuwa is a large settlement located about 37 km north-west of Pretoria. Provincially it is in Gauteng province, but it used to fall in Bophuthatswana during the apartheid years, and under the North West province until the early 2000s.
...
and
Rosslyn.
It is an alternative route to the
N4 Highway for travel between Brits and Pretoria North.
Route
Its western terminus is a junction with the
R104 route about 5.5 kilometres west of
The Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam
The Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam is an elephant sanctuary providing a safe haven and “halfway house” for African elephants. It provides fully guided interactive elephant educational programs covering elephant habits, dynamics, beh ...
in the
Madibeng Local Municipality
The Madibeng Local Municipality is a local municipality in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa. The seat of local municipality is Brits. The popular tourist area of Hartbeespoort is also located in the mu ...
of the
North West Province
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
History
North West was incorporated after the end of Apartheid in 1994, an ...
. It begins by heading north-east for 7 kilometres, flying over the
N4 Highway (
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 ...
), to reach a junction with the
R512 route about 5 kilometres south of the
Brits town centre, where it turns to the east. It proceeds east-north-east for 3.6 kilometres, crossing the
Crocodile River, to reach a junction with the
R511 route.
From the R511 junction near Brits, the R566 continues eastwards. Just after the village of
Mmakau
Mmakau is a village in Bojanala District Municipality in the North West province of South Africa. It is located about 12 km to the east of Brits, and 40 kilometres north-west of Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, ...
, the R566 leaves the
North West Province
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
History
North West was incorporated after the end of Apartheid in 1994, an ...
and enters 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 ...
in
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 as Rosslyn Road. It first passes through
Ga-Rankuwa
Ga-Rankuwa is a large settlement located about 37 km north-west of Pretoria. Provincially it is in Gauteng province, but it used to fall in Bophuthatswana during the apartheid years, and under the North West province until the early 2000s.
...
before passing through the industrial area of
Rosslyn (part of
Akasia
Akasia is a complex of suburbs north of Pretoria, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Formerly an independent municipality, the area surrounding Akasia is largely semi-rural and Akasia itself is built on former agricultural ho ...
), where it meets the
R80 Mabopane Highway.
From the R80 interchange, the R566 heads south-east, bypassing the
Onderstepoort
Onderstepoort is situated in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and the University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science, founded by Sir Arnold Theiler, is also situated here. The institute is known for tro ...
Private Nature Reserve, to cross to the southern side of the
N4 Highway (
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 ...
;
Pretoria Northern Bypass) and pass just north of the
Pretoria North
Pretoria North ( af, Pretoria-Noord) is a suburb of the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, with a population of 16,972 people according to the South African National Census of 2011, 2011 census.
Pretoria North was first settled in 1878 by a ...
suburb. It meets the northern terminus of the
M1 route (which connects to Pretoria North and the
Pretoria CBD
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.
Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothi ...
) before ending at an intersection with the
R101 route at
Annlin (west of
Wonderboom Airport
Wonderboom Airport is located in Pretoria North, South Africa.
History
The airport was opened in 1937, being built on the farm Wonderboom approximately 15 km north of Pretoria. Originally a civilian airstrip for light aircraft, it was ...
).
References
Regional Routes in Gauteng
Regional Routes in North West (South African province)
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