Secunda, a town situated amidst the coalfields of the Mpumalanga province in South Africa, stands as a prominent industrial and commercial hub. Surrounded by coalfields, Secunda's horizon is framed by massive cooling towers, high chimneys, and steel constructions. Although fairly new, it has quickly become a great investment opportunity. Secunda is about an hour and a half away from Johannesburg. The town, however, boasts many city-like amenities and features which make it a desirable location.
Aerial view of Secunda showcasing its industrial landscape.
A Brief History of Secunda
Secunda owes its existence to the 1973 oil crisis, as the town was established to reduce South Africa's reliance on imported crude oil. When the 1973 oil crisis hit, there was a need to make South Africa less dependent on the importation of crude oil. This gave birth to Secunda. Secunda's name comes from the Latin word 'secundi' meaning second. It was the second Sasol extraction refinery producing oil from coal, after Sasolburg. In 1974, Sasol (Transvaal) Townships Limited, a subsidiary of Sasol Limited, was instructed to establish and develop the town of Secunda.
After the site for the Sasol industrial complex had been identified, a decision had to be made on whether to incorporate the existing towns of Evander and Trichardt into the development. Due to the significant financial and administrative strain such an amalgamation would have placed on the established communities, as well as concerns about the pace of development, it was ultimately decided to develop Trichardt and Secunda as a single, unified town under the name Secunda. On 28 June 1976, the first section of the town was officially proclaimed, and the first resident moved in that same year.
One of the refineries at the Sasol complex was the target of two attempted bombings by the African National Congress (ANC). The first attempt, in 1980, was unsuccessful. The second bombing, carried out a few years later, was partially successful. Patrick Chamusso, initially wrongly accused and arrested in connection with the first incident, later joined the ANC following his arrest and torture. He subsequently played a key role in the second bombing as part of the ANC's campaign of attacks on South African industrial infrastructure.
Read also: Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority
As coal is the primary feedstock for the industrial process, Sasol Two was developed adjacent to a major coalfield. Four coal mines-Brandspruit, Middelbult, Bosjesspruit, and Twistdraai-together form the largest underground coal mining complex in South Africa, supplying approximately 37.3 million tonnes of coal annually to Sasol Synthetic Fuels.
In February 1977, Secunda's first library was opened in a house located on Danie Theron Street, with the kitchen, lounge, and dining rooms repurposed to serve as library space. At the same time, a clinic service was introduced, with personnel from the Transvaal Council for Non-Urban Areas visiting the town twice a week. The clinic operated from the same house as the library. On 11 November 1987, a modern public library was inaugurated. Known as the Jan Coertzen Public Library, it includes reference, adult, children's, and music sections, as well as an auditorium with conference facilities.
Climate
Secunda makes for pleasant living. The climate is warm and temperate. During the day, you'll experience dry and sunny weather. The town's average annual temperature is 15.5 °C. Summer is Secunda's wettest season with an average annual rainfall of 689 mm. In Secunda, the summers are long, warm, wet, and partly cloudy and the winters are short, cold, dry, and mostly clear.
The warm season lasts for 4.7 months, from October 31 to March 22, with an average daily high temperature above 74°F. The hottest month of the year in Secunda is January, with an average high of 77°F and low of 56°F. The cold season lasts for 1.9 months, from June 2 to July 30, with an average daily high temperature below 65°F. The coldest month of the year in Secunda is July, with an average low of 32°F and high of 63°F. Based on the tourism score, the best times of year to visit Secunda for warm-weather activities are from mid September to mid October and from mid December to mid April.
The clearer part of the year in Secunda begins around February 23 and lasts for 7.5 months, ending around October 8. The cloudiest month of the year in Secunda is November, during which on average the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 38% of the time. The clearest month of the year in Secunda is July, during which on average the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 88% of the time. The wetter season lasts 5.4 months, from October 11 to March 23, with a greater than 27% chance of a given day being a wet day. The month with the most wet days in Secunda is December, with an average of 16.1 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation.
Read also: Discover Thula Thula
The drier season lasts 6.6 months, from March 23 to October 11. The month with the fewest wet days in Secunda is July, with an average of 0.7 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. The month with the most rain in Secunda is December, with an average rainfall of 4.0 inches. The rainless period of the year lasts for 3.9 months, from May 9 to September 4. The month with the least rain in Secunda is July, with an average rainfall of 0.1 inches.
The windier part of the year lasts for 4.0 months, from July 27 to November 26, with average wind speeds of more than 8.5 miles per hour. The windiest month of the year in Secunda is September, with an average hourly wind speed of 10.0 miles per hour. The calmer time of year lasts for 8.0 months, from November 26 to July 27. The calmest month of the year in Secunda is March, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.9 miles per hour.
The growing season in Secunda typically lasts for 8.6 months (260 days), from around August 31 to around May 18, rarely starting before August 8 or after September 23, and rarely ending before April 21 or after June 8.
Residents of Carolina and Secunda battle water and air pollution challenges in Mpumalanga
Schools in the Area
Looking for an excellent Secunda school? You will find many that will help your child reach his or her full potential. All three schools comply with the requirements of the Department of Basic Education and the South African Schools Act (No. 84 of 1996). There are five primary schools in Secunda. Four of these were originally Afrikaans-medium institutions: Laerskool Goedehoop, Laerskool Kruinpark, and Laerskool Secunda.
Read also: Traditional South African Bread
Primary schools include:
- Highveld Ridge Primary School
- Laerskool Kruinpark
- OranjegloedPrimary
- Laerskool Goedehoop
High schools include:
- Hoërskool Secunda
- Hoërskool Oosterland
- Highveld Park High School
- Curro Secunda (Grade R to Grade 10)
A notable independent school in the area is Curro Secunda, which provides education from Grade R (Grade 0) to Grade 12. Early childhood education is also offered at Curro Castle Secunda, catering to children from 3 months to 5 years of age.
For tertiary education, look to Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology and Vaal University of Technology's Secunda campus.
Healthcare in the Area
There is a range of healthcare options in the area. Hospitals include Mediclinic Secunda and Mediclinic Highveld. There are also many general practitioners, dentists and orthodontists for all your medical needs.
Shopping Centers
Getting your household essentials is simple with a Shoprite and Superspar close by. The Secunda Mall opened in late 2013, featuring a Checkers Hyper, Game, a Ster-Kinekor cinema complex, various restaurants, and numerous national retail chains. You can also find everything you need at Secunda Plaza Shopping Centre, Secunda Square and Secunda Mall. Secunda Mall, a modern shopping centre with a gross lettable area (GLA) of 52,000 m2, opened in the CBD on 23 October 2013.
Distance from Key Points
The driving distance from Secunda to O.R. Tambo International Airport is 124 km. This will take you roughly an hour and 30 minutes to reach your destination.
Restaurants
Secunda will give you a fantastic food experience. You can dine at Bosveld Lapa Restaurant, Symphony's Café, and the brand new BOSSA Restaurant, to name a few.
For a convenient stop, there are plenty of fast food outlets. These include Burger King, Take Two Pizza, McDonald's and KFC.
Special Attractions
Looking for a fun way to spend the day? Secunda provides an assortment of activities.
1. Graceland Casino and Golf Course
This entertainment getaway is conveniently located off the N17 highway. It's a great visit if you would like to golf, game, watch a performance or enjoy a fine meal. The town is also home to the Graceland Hotel, Casino and Country Club, themed around Elvis Presley and American culture of the 1950s.
2. Lake Umuzi Waterfront
This leisure centre has something for the whole family. The AquaZone Waterpark has slides and swimming pools. There are exciting events from farmers' markets to musical performances. Trendy restaurants like Eish!!, Boesies and Upstairs will provide a feast for your appetite.
3. Eende Dam
Step into Eende Dam and feel at peace. This nature retreat provides a spot to braai, picnic or enjoy a walk. You might even stumble across a wedding or photo shoot taking place!
Eende Dam: A peaceful retreat in Secunda.
Additional Information
Secunda is located at approximately 26°S latitude and 29°E longitude, at an elevation of 1,620 metres above sea level. The topography within 2 miles of Secunda contains only modest variations in elevation, with a maximum elevation change of 243 feet and an average elevation above sea level of 5,239 feet. Within 10 miles also contains only modest variations in elevation (476 feet). Within 50 miles contains only modest variations in elevation (1,486 feet).
The area within 2 miles of Secunda is covered by artificial surfaces (66%) and grassland (27%), within 10 miles by grassland (66%) and cropland (24%), and within 50 miles by grassland (59%) and cropland (37%).
Transportation
Greyhound ZA Bus, Ragmor Shell Service Station, Cnr Helen Joseph Dr and Steenkamp St, +27 11 611 8000. Route #13300. One bus leaves Park City Transit Centre, 96 Rissik St, Johannesburg, daily at 8AM and arrives at Secunda at 10:30AM (R300 per person). One bus leaves Durban Station 4 Jelf Taylor Cres, Durban, daily at 7:15AM and arrives at Secunda at 5:30PM (R670 per person).
Accommodation
Here are some accommodation options in Secunda:
- Kuiersaam Gastehuis: Located at 17 Joe Slovo St, Secunda, Mpumalanga.
- Peermont Walmont at Graceland, Secunda: Situated on Embalenhle Road 1, Secunda, Mpumalanga.
- Cascade Villa Guesthouse: Found at 2 Unie St, Secunda, Mpumalanga.
Make Secunda your home. Let it be your story. With a town filled with so much character, it's definitely worth investing in.
Popular articles:
tags: #Africa
