Mining and Agriculture
Vredendal’s economy is based on mining and agriculture. The area was first inhabited by Khoi people and later by farmers who settled along the river in the 1730s.
Lime Production
The production of lime is an integral feature of Vredendal’s commercial output. Known as a multipurpose chemical, lime has been used in the agricultural and building industries for decades. Its diverse uses have allowed it to function as an important part of many fields, namely in the production of paper, steel manufacturing, waste management, poultry farming, water treatment, and food storage to name a few.
The primary producer of lime in Vredendal is Cape Lime. This prominent dolomitic aggregate (limestone) operation opened its plant in Vredendal in 1981, when a mineral filler plant was opened. Later expansion came about with the erection of a high-grade dolomite blending plant in 1983 for the glass industry and in 1993 for the processing of high-grade limestone. In 2004, a calciner, which heats the limestone to a high temperature, was commissioned.