Early history
Secunda has the oil crisis of 1974 to thank for its existence, as it was founded to make South Africa less dependent on the importation of crude oil. It is doubtful whether an industry such as Sasol Two and Three ever formed part of the plans when Sasol One was formed in the 1950s. Sasol Two (1980) and Sasol Three (1982), known as Secunda CTL, the largest coal liquefaction plant in the world, produces synthetic fuel, diesel, and related fuels and petrochemicals from coal gasification. Sasol Two and Three are large industrial refineries, within view, and sometimes earshot, of the town of Secunda.
Today distinctive features of the landscape aropund Secunda are the massive cooling towers, high chimneys and the steel constructions unique to the South-African oil-from coal industry.
As coal is the main ingredient for the process, Sasol Two had to be developed around a coal field. The five coal mines, namely Brandspruit, Middelbult, Bosjesspruit, Twistdraai and Syferfontein (the latter is an underground as well as a quarry mine), form the largest underground and quarry coal mining complex in South Africa and annually supply approximately 37,3 million tons of coal to Sasol Synthetic Fuels.
Another important factor was the availability of water. Water for Sasol is supplied from Grootdraai Dam near Standerton.
After the site for the Sasol complex had been identified, it had to be decided whether or not to combine the existing towns of Evander and Trichardt. The huge burden that extensions of this nature would have had on the financial and administrative resources of the established communities as well as the tempo at which such development should proceed was decisive and resulted in the decision to develop a separate town, namely Secunda.
During 1974 Sasol (Transvaal) Townships Limited, a subsidiary company of Sasol Limited, was instructed to establish and develop Secunda. On the 28th of June 1976, the first town area was proclaimed. The town already had a population of approximately seven thousand residents.
Secunda is situated on the latitude 26° and longitude 29° and is 1620 meters above sea level. It is 180 kilometers form Pretoria and 169 kilometers from Johannesburg.
Secunda
During the summer, Secunda has a very pleasant climate with an average temperature of 25.2°C. During the winter, the nights are cold, and the frost regularly occurs. The days are dry, sunny and warm whit an average day temperature of 16.2°C.
On the 3rd of November 1975, the Health Committee of Secunda was established by means of an Administrative Proclamation, to carry out the functions for local government. At this time Secunda still had no residents. The original Committee consisted of five members. At that stage, the only official was Mr. JF Coertzen, whose job designation was Secretary. He commenced his duties on the 1st of May 1976 with is office in Pretoria, as the then Chairman of the Committee was stationed in Pretoria and no office accommodation was available in Secunda.
1976 saw the first resident of Secunda moving in. Mr Lool Odendaal moved into Tuyshuys, the original house of the farm Goede Hoop, on which Secunda was build.
On the 1st of December 1976, the Secretary moved to Secunda and occupied offices, consisting of two rooms in a house situated at No 4 Danie Theron Street. At this time about 150 families resided in Secunda, with more moving in daily.
In February 1977 Secunda’s first library was opened, located in the kitchen, lounge and dining rooms of a house in Danie Theron Street. At this time a clinic service was also introduced, with personnel of the Transvaal Council for Non-Urban areas visiting Secunda twice a week. The clinic was located in the same house as the library. A permanent service with permanent personnel was established in 1978.
The Health Committee was later expanded to seven committee members, of whom six were appointed by the Administrator from a list of names submitted by Sasol, whilst the remaining member was appointed by the Administrator himself. Secunda acquired Town Council status on the 5th on November 1985.
Other important occasions were the opening of the Secunda Sports Stadium on the 1st of February 1986, as well as the opening and handing over of the Johannes Stegmann Theatre by Sasol Limited on the 6th of August 1986.
On the 11th of November 1987, and ultra modern library was opened. This library is known as the Jan Coertzen Public Library and has a reference, an adult, children’s and a music section as well as an auditorium with conference facilities. In 1994 a community center was completed in Secunda. It was named after Rev. Casper Breedt.
The layout of the town in unique in the sense that residential quarter cells were laid out which are bordered by main routes and green strips, with the result that only internal traffic is found within such cells. Access to schools, the Central Business District and the suburban shopping centers is made easier for pedestrians and cyclist as the green strips are free from vehicles and the distance to be travelled is shorter.
The town has an approximate 90,000 inhabitants, with an estimated 350,000 people living in nearby township, named eMbalenhle - meaning "pretty flower". The town has experienced significant growth in the past few years due to the expansions underway at the Sasol complexes.
