Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng

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Vanderbijlpark is an industrial city next to the Vaal River in southern Gauteng, South Africa. It is home to Vanderbijlpark Steel (previously part of ISCOR (Iron and Steel Corporation), now part of the global company Mittal). 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, is also located in Vanderbijlpark.

Vanderbijlpark is also home to Cape Gate (Pty) Ltd, a major market share holder in the wire industry.

[edit] History

It all started when Dr HJ van der Bijl, a brilliant young scientist 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. 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 city. 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.