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Budding Future for Sasolburg
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Vaal River City
A new “mini city” has been proposed for Gauteng and if implemented, Sasolburg is set to benefit enormously. The Vaal River City was unveiled in May 2015, with plans to position it on the southern corridor of Gauteng, forming access to key roads that link up to Sasolburg. The R11 billion project will be South Africa’s first “post-apartheid” city along the Vaal River.
Spanning through to Sasolburg, the development will provide a notable escalation in the local economy, and will consist of 5,000 residential units, 400,000 square metres of commercial office space, 60,000 square metres for retail and leisure facilities and 20 hectares of outdoor parklands, including a bird sanctuary.
According to Project Head, Reginald Kukama, Vaal River City is set to increase employment opportunities within the city, the construction segment alone will create up to 7,500 job openings, leading to a further 19 000 people being employed. Furthermore, it is said that this will become a blueprint for the development of future cities.
Sasolburg stands to benefit as the proposed Vaal River City will be open to the public, offering a new waterfront and tourism destination.
Sasol Business Incubator
The proposed Vaal River City is not the only indicator of investor confidence in the area. The Sasol Business Incubator recently launched by Sasol and the Department of Trade and Industry represents economic growth and a rejuvenated investor confidence in the area.
Ideally, this 172-hectare eco-industrial park aims to groom industrialists. The R54 million facility located in Sasolburg comprises five individual buildings, complete with industrial equipment and essential business services and infrastructure. The objective of the project is about accelerating the effective progress of local start-up small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) and promoting their sustainability in the manufacturing sector.
Once more, the city of Sasolburg thrives to create employment for local residents. Focusing on increasing trade and industry opportunities for empowered individuals and businesses.
With that said, this development will also rope in local businesses to be part of the project.
“The old days, when ‘enterprise development’ referred to cleaning services, catering companies and stationery providers, are gone”, said Maurice Radebe executive vice president of Sasol Energy Business.
Radebe explains how this would be making it possible for small businesses to flourish, without much need to go beyond the limitations of the premises. In addition to gaining access to Sasol’s supply chain, the companies are able to interdepend and provide services to one another.
The industrial park consists of; 151 stands fully serviced and available for sale at competitive prices, qualifying business owners. Essentially these business owners would in no doubt be at the pole position of movement. Thus also allowing for black industrialists to locate themselves at Sasol’s eco-industrial park in Sasolburg.
Then and Now
The town of Sasolburg was established in the early 1950's, owing its existence to the petro-chemical industry. Sasolburg initially provided housing, amenities and services for SASOL (South African Coal, Oil & Gas) employees. Situated in the far northern corner of the Free State Province and southern banks of the Vaal River. The entrancing city of Sasolburg holds one of the only two viable coal-derived oil refineries in the world. This large industrial town which is further sub-divided into three areas: Sasolburg, Vaalpark and Zamdela is now home to an estimated 113,038 people.
Residential Opportunities
With the recent interest and progress in and around the town, Sasolburg is increasingly drawing in investors and development opportunities. This has resulted in a growing number of professionals moving into the area for employment opportunities. This evolving urban demographic is witnessing a spate of residential developments burgeoning throughout the town to accommodate population growth. Such trends has led to homes appreciating in value, with top-end properties fetching up to 9 million.
For those interested in buying a home in Sasolburg for investment or living purposes, can rest assured that Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty has the most luxurious homes in the area. Contact our expert agents today, who will guide you at every step of the way in finding your dream home.
Author: Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty