• A need for training in the Vaal Triangle (formed by the towns Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, and Vereeniging) stemmed from industrial development in the area after World War II.

• After the establishment of steelworks in the area, Vanderbijlpark received municipal status in 1952. It was named after Dr. Hendrik van der Bijl, an electrical engineer who was tasked by the government with planning the country’s industrial development.

• Sasolburg was founded in 1952 after a plant to extract oil from coal was established in the area.

• In 1958, business leaders, under the leadership of Dr. F.P. Jacobsz, and representatives from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) began to discuss the possibility of a university campus for the Vaal Triangle.

• In 1963, Prof. A.J.E. Sorgdrager from the PU for CHE began offering refresher courses for cost accountants in the Vanderbijlpark area.

• The PU formally established its Vaal River Branch in 1965.

• In 1973, the PU for CHE acquired land, 88 hectares in extent, next to the Vaal River to develop a university campus. Later, a further 23 hectares were acquired so that by 2004 the terrain was 111 hectares in size.

• After the creation of an Engineering Faculty at the PU for CHE in 1981, the Council decided in 1982 that this faculty should be housed at the Vaal Triangle Campus.

• The relocation of the Engineering Faculty to Potchefstroom in the early 1990s and changes within the PU for CHE regarding the role of the Vaal Triangle Campus within the greater framework of the University meant that the University had to completely abandon the original master plan for campus development.

• In 1995, it was decided to construct a building with a large lecture hall and small group rooms between Blocks A and C (Buildings 4 and 7).

• Adequate funds were raised from the private sector to supplement the money received from the government.

• The building was specifically designed for use by Telematic Learning Systems, which was developed on the Potchefstroom Campus.

• To express their gratitude for the generous contribution of ISCOR, a longstanding partner of the Vaal Triangle Campus, it was decided to name the building the ISCOR Centre for Telematic Learning.

• Construction began in 1998 and was completed by mid-1999.

• This centre consists of two auditoriums, known as the SAMANCOR and Old Mutual Auditoriums.

• The SAMANCOR Auditorium has seating for 328, and the Old Mutual Auditorium has 72.

• The building also includes eleven other rooms and a cafeteria area.

• The total building costs were R1.7 million, and it was furnished with equipment valued at R500,000.

• This building remains one of the most iconic structures on the campus.

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Samancor Building 6, Year 2010

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Aerial view of Samancor Building, Year 2008

An aerial view of the Vaal Triangle Campus in 2003 shows Building 6 centre front