Vereeniging
Motto: Per Pacem Ad Industriam ("From peace to industry")
Vereeniging
Vereeniging  Vereeniging shown within South Africa
Coordinates: 26°40′25″S 27°55′55″E / 26.67361°S 27.93194°E / -26.67361; 27.93194Coordinates: 26°40′25″S 27°55′55″E / 26.67361°S 27.93194°E / -26.67361; 27.93194
Country	South Africa
Province	Gauteng
District	Sedibeng
Municipality	Emfuleni
Established	1892
Area[1]
• Total	191.33 km2 (73.87 sq mi)
Population (2001)[1]
• Total	73,283
• Density	380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)[1]
• Black African	38.5%
• Coloured	6.2%
• Indian/Asian	7.6%
• White	47.7%
First languages (2001)[1]
• Afrikaans	46.6%
• Sotho	20.9%
• English	16.3%
• Zulu	5.7%
• Other	10.5%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)

Vereeniging is a city in Gauteng province, South Africa. It is also one of the constituent parts of the Vaal Triangle region and was formerly situated in the Transvaal province. The name Vereeniging is derived from the Dutch word meaning "association" or "union".

  Geographical information

Vereeniging is situated in the southern part of Gauteng Province, and neighbors Vanderbijlpark (to the west), Three Rivers (east), Meyerton (north) and Sasolburg (south). The city is currently one of the most important industrial manufacturing centres in South Africa, with its chief products being iron, steel, pipes, bricks, tiles and processed lime.

The predominant language in Vereeniging is Afrikaans, followed closely by English and Sesotho.

  History

The city was founded in 1892 and is situated on the banks of the northern loop of the Vaal River. Much of its early growth was due to the nearby coal mines.

The city is known for being the location where the Treaty of Vereeniging ending the Second Boer War (1899–1902) was negotiated. During this conflict, a concentration camp was set up by the British military in the area. The concentration camp at Vereeniging was set up in September 1900, and by October 1901 housed 185 men, 330 women, and 452 children. Conditions at the camp were very poor, water was brought by cart (there was no direct water supply) and only 24 latrines. Most inmates lived in bell-tents but there was a dispensary and a school. Today, the site of the concentration camp has been replaced by the Maccauvlei Golf Course.^[2]

Vereeniging was one of the first municipalities in South Africa to provide better housing for Africans. Near Vereeniging is the predominantly black community of Sharpeville, Gauteng, the site of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960.

Since 1994, Vereeniging has been the home of southern Africa's annual LED Festival.

  Trade and industry

The city's motto is Per Pacem ad Industriam ("Through peace to industry"). It is currently one of the most important industrial manufacturing centres in South Africa, with its chief products being iron, steel, pipes, bricks, tiles and processed lime. Several coal mines are also still situated in the area, with reserves being estimated at four billion tons. Other mines nearby extract fire-clay, silica and building stone. Vereeniging also has several Eskom thermal power plants that supply electricity to the nearby goldmines.

Vereeniging has been mentioned jokingly as the town in South Africa which has the most vehicle dealerships per square metre.

  Suburbs and municipality

In the census of 2001 the population of Vereeniging was recorded as 73,283.^[3]

Vereeniging consists of 20 suburbs:

Since 1999, Vereeniging has been part of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, along with Vanderbijlpark and the smaller Three Rivers.

Map of Three Rivers

  Healthcare

Various health services are available in Vereeniging. The majority of these services are located in or near the major medical centres. These include:

• Vereeniging Medi-Clinic
• Midvaal Private Hospital
• Kopanong Hospital
• Sebokeng Hospital
• Sebokeng Private Hospital

  Education

  Tertiary institutions

• A campus of the University of South Africa
• Damelin College
• Sedibeng College
• It is also close to the North-West University's Vaal Campus, and the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark.

  Hotel

Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club

Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club is situated on a unique bend of the scenic Vaal River and a quick 45 minutes drive from Johannesburg. This luxurious resort caters for discerning business and leisure travellers alike. Whether you visit the hotel for a family getaway or for a conference, your needs will always be exceeded.

This is one of few child friendly Vaal River resorts that have struck a perfect balance for family entertainment as well as business travel. Always ready to accommodate, amuse and entertain everyone with ample choices.

The resort has 89 stylish and spacious rooms all featuring a unique angle of the Vaal River – where you can experience optimum quality, comfort and elegance during your leisure holidays.

The accommodation packages include all the Vaal River resort’s entertainment offers ranging from golf and spa to delicious dining and pleasure cruises as well as water sports adventures. The hotel blends a comfortable stay seasoned with great activities that you will truly appreciate.

  Trivia

• F.W. de Klerk was first elected to the South African parliament in 1969 as the member for Vereeniging.
• Bles Bridges, a well known Afrikaans country singer, also stayed in Vereeniging, until his death in 2000.
• Charl Schwartzel (the 2011 US Masters champion), Morné Morkel and Albie Morkel attended Vereeniging High.
• Although named after Vereeniging, the Treaty of Vereeniging was actually signed at Melrose House, Pretoria.
• General Smuts High School, one of the English language schools found in Vereeniging, was named after the famous General Smuts of the League of Nations fame.
• It is said that Mohandas K Gandhi was briefly incarcerated in the old town jail, the ruins of which were visible in the grounds of Handhawer Primary School.
• The motto of the city is "Per Pacem ad Industriam" ("Through peace to industry").

  Crime

The latest crime statistics for Vereeniging Police Precinct was issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in September 2010. The SAPS crime report^[4] showed the following information:

  Flooding along Sugarbush Drive, Three Rivers Proper

  Brandmuller Avenue in Three Rivers Proper

  Flooding 2011

In December 2010 and January 2011 the southern part of Gauteng and Mpumulanga experienced a higher than normal rainfall. This resulted in the need to release more water from the nearby Vaal dam. As a consequence, Vereeniging and the rest of the towns downstream were flooded.

  References

  External links

• Emfuleni Municipality
• Vaal Triangle Info
• Crime Report Vereeniging 2010

Municipalities and communities of Sedibeng District Municipality, Gauteng District seat: Vereeniging Local municipalities Emfuleni Lesedi Midvaal Cities and towns Vereeniging