Nigel is gold mining town on the east edge of the East Rand. A prospector who was reading Sit Walter Scott's book "The Fortunes of Nigel" at the time, found gold on the Varkenfontein in 1886 and formed the Nigel Gold Mining Company. The town that developed around the mine derived its name from the book.
The mines have not closed but Gautrain rail cars are dispatched from there, electricity lines hardware and towers are manufactured in Nigel. Whereas the town used to rely solely on gold production, many of its inhabitants are now employed in heavy industry.
0