Vanderbijlpark
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| Vanderbijlpark | |
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 Vanderbijlpark
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Vanderbijlpark
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| Coordinates: 26°41′57″S 27°50′8″E / 26.69917°S 27.83556°ECoordinates: 26°41′57″S 27°50′8″E / 26.69917°S 27.83556°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| District | Sedibeng |
| Municipality | Emfuleni |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 207.69 km2 (80.19 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
| • Total | 80,205 |
| • Density | 386/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001)[1] | |
| • Black African | 28.8% |
| • Coloured | 0.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 69.9% |
| First languages (2001)[1] | |
| • Afrikaans | 62.5% |
| • Sotho | 16.2% |
| • English | 9.0% |
| • Zulu | 3.8% |
| • Other | 8.5% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
Vanderbijlpark (Afrikaans pronunciation: [fʌndɪɹbeɪl'pɑːɹk])[Stress?] is an industrial city with 220,102 inhabitants on the Vaal River in the south of the Gauteng province of South Africa.
Named after Hendrik van der Bijl, an electrical engineer and industrialist, Vanderbijlpark is home to Vanderbijlpark Steel (previously part of ISCOR (Iron and Steel Corporation), now part of the global company ArcelorMittal). With neighbouring towns Vereeniging and Sasolburg it forms the Vaal Triangle, a major industrial region of South Africa. Located in the district municipality of Sedibeng and the local municipality of Emfuleni.
The black townships Boipatong, Bophelong, Sebokeng and Sharpeville are close to the city.
VECOR, the largest comprehensive heavy engineering works in the Southern Hemisphere[citation needed], is also located in Vanderbijlpark.
Vanderbijlpark is also home to Cape Gate (Pty) Ltd, a major market share holder in the wire industry.
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[edit] History
It all started when Dr HJ van der Bijl, a young South African electrical engineer working in the United States at the time, was called back to South Africa in 1920 by the then Prime Minister Jan Smuts to advise the government on planning South Africa's industrial development.[2] Van der Bijl oversaw the Iron and Steel Corporation's first plant at Pretoria, but with the increased demand after World War II, 100 km² was bought to build a large steel works and model town. The steel works began operating in 1947 and the town was proclaimed in 1949. The town attained municipal status in 1952 when Governor General Dr EG Jansen opened ISCOR's second steel works.
[edit] Suburbs
Vanderbijlpark has been designed in a circular design, which differs from the traditional grid design of towns. The town is divided into four distinct residential blocks, namely:
- CE (Central East)
- CW (Central West)
- SE (South East)
- SW (South West)
Vanderbijlpark CBD on Wikimapia
The different suburbs are then named as follows:
- CE1
- CE2
- CE3
- CE4
- CW1
- CW2
- CW3
- CW4
- CW5
- CW6
- SE1
- SE2
- SE3
- SE4
- SE6
- SE7
- SE8
- SW1
- SW2
- SW5
The other suburbs of Vanderbijlpark are:
- Boipatong
- Bophelong
- Bonnane
- Flora Gardens
There are also a number of areas with small holdings in Vanderbijlpark:
- Theoville
- Lamont Park
[edit] Education
There are over 60 primary and secondary schools within the Vaal Triangle area. Of these, 20 primary and 18 secondary schools are located in Vanderbijlpark.
Tertiary Education
The Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University is located in Vanderbijlpark. This campus is situated on the banks of the Vaal River and has student numbers exceeding 3000.
The main campus of Vaal University of Technology is located in Vanderbijlpark. It is about 1 KM away from the North West University.
The Computer Training institute (CTI) has just built a new satellite campus in central Vanderbijlpark.
Sedibeng College is famous for attracting many students from as far as Quaqua (a big township near Lesotho borders) to do N-Level engineering courses and matric upgrades.
A big part of Vanderbijlpark residential area is rented by students studying at the above mentioned institutions and others.
[edit] Entertainment
Vanderbijlpark is home to the Emerald Casino Resort, Emfuleni Golf Course and the recently constructed Vaal Mall.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2001 Census, Vanderbijlpark occupies an area of 233 km². The population is 80,201, which can be broken down as follows: 70.2% White, 28.7% Black, 0.8% Coloured and 0.4% Asian. The population density is 344 persons per km² (888 persons per mi²). [1]
[edit] Famous Residents
Ray Jennings, former coach of the South African cricket team, was born in Vanderbijlpark.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Vanderbijlpark". Census 2001. http://census.adrianfrith.com/place/70409.
- ^ Rosenthal, E: Southern African Dictionary of National Biography, Frederick Warne and Co. Ltd, 1966, pp. 389–390, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 66-15690
[edit] External links
- Sedibeng District Municipality
- Emfuleni Local Municipality
- Vaal Triangle Info
- North-West University
- More information on Vanderbijlpark
- Vaal Triangle Business Directory
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