Area Profiles

A little bit of history: Some of the earliest inhabitants of the area were the mysterious Leghoya people. Not much is known about them, but ruins of their settlements dating back to c.1400 can be found in the area. During the mid-1800s, the area prior to the formation as a village, was an outspan area for resting teams of draw animals transporting goods across the region mainly due to the water of the small lakes dotting the area. Modern Ermelo was founded by Dutch Reformed Church Reverend Frans Lion Cachet (1835-1899). He would minister to the many farms in the area. A congregation was started by Cachet in 1870, and was recognised by the 5th annual general meeting...

In 1976 construction of R2,3 billion Sasol 2 commences and a new town named Secunda is born. The name of our town means "Second", which originated from the Latin language, and was so-called due to the fact that it was the second extraction refinery making oil from coal. This opening was a result of the oil crisis in the years 1973 to 1974. Like the world's first such plant at Sasolburg, the Secunda plants produce commercial quantities of oil. Built by Sasol Ltd. (called the South African Coal, Oil, and Gas Corporation Ltd. before 1979), the second plant achieved full production in 1982. The plants also produce a great variety of chemicals as well as gasoline;...