History of the Vaal

A profound restructuring of the South African economy has occurred since the election of the first democratic government in 1994. A new trade regime and industrial policy geared the country away from highly protective productive sectors towards a global market-oriented transformation based on price competitiveness. Coupled with this, turbulence in world steel markets impacted negatively on the Vaal’s local economy.

The need to operate in global markets and the progressive reduction in trade barriers, forced local manufacturing and steel firms to reduce their labour intensity and costs in order to respond and become internationally competitive. The knock-on effect to this stream-lining, has been the downward trend in manufacturing activities. The Vaal is slowly emerging from this painful period of restructuring. The skills and infrastructures that made this region so dominant in the 20th century still remain. The revival of the local economy is echoing that of the resurging national economy. Iscor, is now part of the worlds biggest steel producer, Arcelor Mittal Steel. Their head offices have been relocated from Pretoria to Vanderbijlpark and even though the increase in production over the last ten years has been slowed due to the recent global financial crises, the region is still ripe for inward investment.

The Vaal is a giant, ready to awaken from its slumber.

Dickenson Railway Bridge

Peace Monument

Vereeniging

William Stow Monument

Garden of Remembrance

Sharpeville

Apartheid Bridge

Cenotaph

OVERVIEW

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