The Vaal River Region is an interprovincial region that includes portions of nine municipalities, four provinces, and an area of 36,000 square kilometres.  The area is home to significant industrial hubs, diverse urban regions of various sizes and types, world heritage sites, natural reserves, farming areas, and South Africa’s most significant river, the Vaal River.

By strengthening the area’s distinctive qualities and market niches, building a resource base, reducing obstacles to growth, and safeguarding the Vaal River and natural resources, VRRSDF offers a framework for regional development. In addition to providing fundamental guidelines for land development, land use management, and spatial planning, the framework identifies regional development targets, indicates the desired spatial and economic development direction and necessary soft and hard infrastructure requirement, and aligns regional resources and capabilities to support the region’s development.  It also strengthens collaboration between the various branches of government.