Abstract The East Rand developed first as a gold mining region. Despite the virtual cessation of gold mining activities in the area, economic growth has continued due to the integration of the area into the expanding core of the Witwatersrand. This is the first of two papers investigating this adaptation in structural and spatial terms. This paper has two aims. Firstly, by economic base analysis it shows the transition in the economic base of the region and the ability of manufacturing to support a larger non-basic employment than gold mining. Secondly, it investigates the structural integration of the region into the industrial core of the Witwatersrand. From these two aspects future growth prospects for the regional economy are considered.