Vereeniging
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 derives from the Dutch word meaning “association” or “union”.
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 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.
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 place 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 Today, the site of the concentration camp has been replaced by the Maccauvlei Golf Course.
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.
The city’s motto is Per Pacem ad Industriam (“Through peace to industry”).
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.
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), Morne 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, is 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 on the grounds of Handhawer Primary School.
henry
hi there is it possible for some pictures of the jail that was there in Vereeniging “handhawer”
louis
We will start looking! Does anyone perhaps know where that may be?
rina
When is the next show & how does one go about displaying at the show
zozo
will like to know how to book for a cruise of plus 15 ladies
Jennifer Jones Entertainment
Hi Zoleka, contact Liquid Lounge at:
Physical Address: 777 Frikkie Meyer Blvd Vanderbijlpark
Postal Address: P.O. Box 573 Park South 1910
Postal Code: 1911
Telephone: +27(0)16 982 3411
Mobile: +27(0)-
Email: info@liquidlounge.co.za
Website: http://www.liquidlounge.co.za