Vlakfontein is a small village of hostels built by Safcol to house its workers. The hostel has quarters for both married and single workers and has 144 occupants in total. The common practice is that every weekend workers will leave their quarters to visit their families in and around Mpumalanga. A supervisor paid by Safcol plays the role similar to that of a headman by overseeing the welfare of villagers. The history of the villagers is no less than 40 years and, according to the supervisor who was well over 50, has been there since he was a young boy.