For those who would like to know where I come from, this is it. This is where I work, study and play. This is my home.
P.S – Scroll to the bottom (just below the gallery) for the English version 😀 This time I wrote two! You’re welcome 😉
Vaaldriehoek alles behalwe vaal
Agter die mistroostige bruin wolk wat oor die Vaaldriehoek hang, of die “vuil driehoek” waarna so dikwels verwys word, skuil ’n ryk geskiedenis.
Teen dagbreek is ’n ongelooflike sonsopkoms in skakerings van roesbruin en oranje-rooi te sien – kompleet soos ’n wintersoggend op die platteland – alles te danke aan die besoedeling wat fabrieke in die lug in pomp.
Die Vaaldriehoek bestaan uit drie klein industriële dorpe: Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark en Sasolburg. Laasgenoemde is die tuiste van Sasol, ’n internasionale geïnkorporeerde energie en chemiese maatskappy, asook ArcelorMittal voorheen bekend as Iscor.
In 1942 kon die Suid-Afrikaanse Yster en Staal Industriële Korporasie, geleë in Pretoria, nie verder uitbrei nie – weens ’n gebrek aan spasie. Jan Smuts, die destydse Eerste Minister, het Hendrik van der Bijl (toesighouer van die fabriek in Pretoria) gevra om die regering te adviseer oor industriële ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika.
So is genoeg spasie in Vanderbijlpark opgespoor en ’n fabriek, Iscor, is in 1947 geopen. Vanderbijlpark is in 1949 geproklameer en het in 1952 amptelik munisipale status verwerf.
ArcelorMittal is die grootste staalprodusent in Afrika met hoofkantore in Vanderbijlpark. Volgens hul webwerf, het ArcelorMittal ’n inkomste van R30 miljard, 16% aandele in die produksie van steenkool en hulle besit ’n reg op hoë gehalte ystererts-reserwes vanaf die Sishen-myn en die Thabazimbi-myn.
Sasol (Suid-Afrikaanse steenkool, olie en gas Korporasie) is twaalf kilometer suid van Vanderbijlpark, in Sasolburg, geleë.
Sasolburg is aanvanklik as ’n “maatskappy dorp” vir Sasol se werkers gestig. Maar die vinnige groei van die bevolking het munisipale status in 1967 aangemoedig.
Vaaltriangle.info sê Sasolburg se ekonomie is afhanklik van Sasol se chemiese nywerhede en dra tot tussen 50% en 60% van die dorp se GGP by (Algemene Groei Eiendomme) ─ wat omskakel in drie tot vier miljard rand.
Vereeniging, twaalf kilometer wes van Sasolburg, is geleë aan die noordelike oewer van die Vaalrivier en is bedoel om ’n industriële gebied te wees. Steenkoolvelde is in 1878 ontdek en ontwikkel deur Samuel Marks en Isaac Lewis. Vereeniging is ook vindingryk in hulpbronne soos water en vuur-klei dolomiet.
Dit is juis hiér waar die ryk geskiedenis begin het. Tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog moes mense wat nie oorspronklik van die Transvaal is nie, en nie ’n geleibrief kon kry om aan te bly nie, vinnig hul huise verlaat. Hulle het deur Vereeniging in steenkool- en bees-vragmotors gereis en later ’n teiken van bloedgevegte geword.
Afgesien van die bloedgevegte is Vereeniging ook bekend om die plek waar die geweld geëindig het. Op 31 Mei 1902 is die Vrede van Vereeniging-verdrag onderteken. Die ooreenkoms het ’n einde gebring aan die konflik tussen die Britse kroon en die Boere.
Die Vaaldriehoek, veral Vereeniging, is ’n simbool van vryheid. Dit is egter die vyf omliggende townships wat integraal deel was van Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis: die afskaffing van apartheid.
Boipatong, Bophelong, Evaton, Sebokeng en Sharpeville is oor die Vaaldriehoek versprei. Inwoners van die townships was betrokke by die uitmoording van mense wat, volgens vaalhistory.org.za, as ’n “smeulvuur van menslike woede” beskryf is.
Op 21 Maart 1960 het swart mans sonder hulle pasboeke voor hul naaste polisie stasie, betoog en geëis dat hulle in hegtenis geneem word. Dit was glo, volgens ’n webblad oor Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis; southafrica.info, die idee van die Pan African Congress (PAC) om sodoende alle paswette af te skaf. Die PAC het gereken as te veel mense gearresteer word gaan die tronke vol wees en die land se ekonomie tot ’n stilstand bring.
Die Sharpeville polisie het die massas op hulle sien afstorm en paniekbevange skote begin vuur. So is 69 mense vermoor en honderde beseer.
Geweld het op 12 Januarie 1991 in Sebokeng uitgebreek toe roudraers van ’n ANC-lid aangeval is. Die oorlede leier van Sebokeng en ANC-lid, Chris Nangalembe, se gemeenskapslede is tydens sy roudiens aangeval. ’n Bende gewapende mans het die begrafnistent binnegeval en handgranate gegooi. Meer as 30 lede is vermoor.
Volgens sahistory.org.za is die Boipatong-slagting, op 17 Januarie 1992, die “bloedigste en mees wrede” aanval rakende die Vaaldriehoek se township-geweld nóg. ’n Groep van 300 mans het inwoners van Joe Slovo, ’n informele nedersetting net buite Vereeniging, aangeval. Vermoedelik wou hierdie mans die onderhandelinge tussen die Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) en die African National Congress (ANC) ondermyn.
Agter die rook en vuil lug skuil daar meer as net besoedeling. Die Vaaldriehoek is ’n baken van vryheid, versoening en vrede. Die geweld wat hier plaas gevind het honderde se oë oopgemaak en gelei tot ’n beter Suid-Afrika.
Vaal Triangle, more than meets the eye
Behind a gloomy cloud, like a brown mushroom hanging over the Vaal Triangle, hides a rich history: a history of bloodshot fists and reconciliation.
An amazing sunrise, in shades of russet and orange-red, creates brilliant ambiance – almost like a winter morning in the countryside – all thanks to the pollution factories pump into the air.
The Vaal Triangle has been my home for close to eleven years. This is the place where I grew up, fell irrevocably in love for the first time and discovered my love for journalism – the very place that taught me it is important to know your history because it shapes your perception and understanding of society.
The Vaal Triangle is a lot bigger than one might think. The very reason it is given the name “Triangle” is because it consists of three small industrial towns: Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg. The latter is the home of Sasol, an international incorporated energy and chemical company, as well as ArcelorMittal formerly known as Iscor.
In 1942 the South African Iron and Steel Industrial Corporation, located in Pretoria, could not expand due to the lack of space. Jan Smuts, the then Prime Minister, asked Hendrik van der Bijl (supervisor of the Pretoria factory) to advise the government on the industrial development of South Africa.
Consequently, enough space was found in Vanderbijlpark and a factory, Iscor, opened in 1947. Vanderbijlpark was proclaimed in 1949 and reached official municipal status in 1952.
ArcelorMittal is the largest steel producer in Africa, with headquarters in Vanderbijlpark. According to their website, ArcelorMittal has an income of R30 billion, a 16% share in the production of coal and they have a right to high quality iron ore reserves from the Sishen and Thabazimbi mine.
Sasol (South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation) is situated twelve miles south of Vanderbijlpark in Sasolburg. It was initially a town for Sasol’s workers. However, the rapid growth of the population encouraged municipal status in 1967.
Vaaltriangle.info says Sasolburg’s economy is dependent on Sasol’s chemical industries and contributes to between 50% and 60% of the town’s GGP at (General Growth Properties) ─ which converts into three to four billion dollars.
Vereeniging, twelve miles west of Sasolburg, is located on the northern banks of the Vaal River and is intended to be an industrial zone. Coalfields were discovered in 1878 and developed by Samuel Marks and Isaac Lewis. Vereeniging is also rich in resources such as water and fire-clay dolomite.
This is where the Vaal Triangle’s rich history began. During the Anglo-Boer War people who were not originally from the Transvaal and whom could not acquire a passbook to stay, quickly had to leave their homes. They travelled through Vereeniging in coal and cattle trucks and became targets of blood battles.
Apart from the blood battles, Vereeniging is also known as the place where the violence between the British and Boers ended. On May 31, 1902, the Peace of Vereeniging Treaty was signed. This agreement brought an end to the conflict between the British Crown and the Boers.
The Vaal Triangle, Vereeniging especially, is a symbol of freedom. It is the five surrounding townships which form an integral part of South Africa’s history: the abolition of apartheid.
Boipatong, Bophelong, Evaton, Sebokeng and Sharpeville are spread about the Vaal Triangle. Residents of the townships were involved in the massacre of people who, according vaalhistory.org.za is described as “smouldering human rage”.
On March 21, 1960, black men without their passbooks marched to their nearest police station, protesting and demanding that they be arrested. It was believed, according to a website about South African history; southafrica.info, to be the idea of the Pan African Congress (PAC) that all pass laws be abolished. The PAC considered if too many people were arrested, the prisons would be too full and the country’s economy would come to a standstill.
The Sharpeville police saw the masses rushing towards them and, in panic and absolute fear, began to fire shots. Consequently, 69 people were killed and hundreds injured.
Violence erupted on January 12, 1991 in Sebokeng when mourners of an ANC member were attacked. Community members of Chris Nangalembe, the late leader of Sebokeng and ANC member, were attacked during his funeral. A gang of armed men, invaded the funeral tent and threw hand grenades. More than 30 members were killed.
According sahistory.org.za the Boipatong massacre, on January 17, 1992, was the “bloodiest and most brutal” onslaught on a Vaal Triangle township yet. A group of 300 male residents of Joe Slovo, an informal settlement just outside of Vereeniging were viciously attacked. Presumably, these men wanted to undermine the negotiations between the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African National Congress (ANC).
Pollution and smoke which hangs over the Vaal Triangle, as you enter it, is a smoke screen which hides an important part of South Africa’s history. The Vaal Triangle is a beacon of freedom, reconciliation and peace. The violence that took place here opened hundreds of eyes and led to a better South Africa
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