Mission guide
South Africa Johannesburg Mission
Explore Johannesburg’s gold-mining history and the South Africa Johannesburg Mission, where English and Zulu are spoken.
- English
- Zulu
South Africa Johannesburg Mission shirts
Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.
South Africa Johannesburg Mission T-Shirt
$29.00
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South Africa Johannesburg Mission Heart Map Shirt
$29.00
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South Africa Johannesburg Mission Flag Map Shirt
$29.00
Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
More shirts in the language of this mission
Press Forward, in the language of this mission
"Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" (2 Nephi 31:20) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
English and Zulu are spoken in the mission area. Zulu is also known locally as isiZulu.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Main city
- Johannesburg, 4,803,262 people in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (2022)
- Languages
- English and Zulu
- Time zone
- South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)
- Climate
- Subtropical highland climate with sunny, dry winters and summer thunderstorms
- Setting
- Highveld plateau at 1,753 metres above sea level
A short history of the area
The first settlement grew from Ferreira’s Camp, which had about 3,000 residents by 1887. Johannesburg later became South Africa’s economic capital. In 1976, the Soweto uprising began after protests over the use of Afrikaans in Black schools. In 1994, Johannesburg and surrounding townships were unified into the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.
The Church here
- 1852Brigham Young called Jesse C. Haven, Leonard I. Smith, and William H. Walker to open a mission in South Africa.
- 1853The missionaries arrived in Cape Town and held the first public meeting of the Church in South Africa.
- 1853Henry Stringer was baptized in Mowbray, becoming the first person to join the Church in South Africa.
- 1853The Mowbray Branch, the first branch in Africa, was organized.
- 1963The South Africa Mission was reclassified as a foreign-language mission.
- 1970The Transvaal Stake, the first stake in South Africa, was organized in Johannesburg.
- 1973President Spencer W. Kimball dedicated South Africa for missionary work and spoke of future wards, stakes, and a temple.
- 1978The first area conference was held in Johannesburg, with members from South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Southern Rhodesia.
- 1984The South Africa Johannesburg Mission was divided to create a second mission in Cape Town.
Temples nearby
Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Dedicated August 24, 1985 · Near Johannesburg
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- SawubonaHello
- Unjani?How are you?
- NgiyabongaThank you
- NgiyacelaPlease
Foods to try
- Bunny chow (a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry)
- Boerewors (a traditional South African sausage)
- Pap (a stiff cornmeal porridge often served with meat or vegetables)
- Chakalaka (a spicy vegetable relish)
Fun facts
- Johannesburg’s mines are among the deepest in the world, with some reaching about 4,000 metres.
- The Witwatersrand gold industry once produced 40 percent of the planet’s gold.
- Johannesburg has an estimated six million trees, including about 1.2 million along pavements and sidewalks.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.