Vanderbijlpark:
Dr HJ van der Bijl, a brilliant young scientist working in the United States, was called back to South Africa in 1920 by Prime Minister Jan Smuts to advise the government on planning South Africa’s industrial development. Van der Bijl oversaw the inauguration of the Iron and Steel Corporation’s (ISCOR) first plant at Pretoria in 1934 and, with increased demand, 10 000ha was bought to build a large steelworks and model city for its employees - Vanderbijlpark.
It is home to Vanderbijlpark Steel. With neighboring 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.
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