Coordinates : 25 ° 58 ′ 02 ″ S 27 ° 39 ′ 45 ″ E \ / 25.96716 ° S 27.66245 ° E \ / -25.96716 ; 27.66245 The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site first named by UNESCO in 1999 , about 50 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg , South Africa in the Gauteng province .
Coordinates : 25 ° 58 ′ 02 ″ S 27 ° 39 ′ 45 ″ E \ / 25.96716 ° S 27.66245 ° E \ / -25.96716 ; 27.66245 The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site .