Sasolburg
Sasolburg is a large industrial town in the far north of the Free State province of South Africa.
Sasolburg is further sub-divided into three areas: Sasolburg proper, Vaalpark ( a more affluent cluster of suburbs located about 5 km north of the Sasolburg CBD) and Zamdela ( a ‘township’ or area formerly reserved for Black people).
Most White residents of Sasolburg speak Afrikaans as a first language, while most Black people speak Sesotho as a first language.
The town was established in 1954 to provide housing and facilities for Sasol (formerly known as the “Suid-Afrikaanse Steenkool-, Olie- en Gasmaatskappy” or “South African Coal, Oil and Gas Company”) employees. The first installation (Sasol 1) was a pilot plant to refine oil from coal, due to the lack of petroleum reserves.