  In these proceedings I discuss a range of surveys that are currently underway
at optical, near-infrared and far-infrared wavelengths that have large
components accessible to both the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and
the Meer Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT). Particular attention is paid to the
surveys currently underway with ESO's VISTA telescope, which will provide the
ideal data from which to select targets for SALT spectroscopy whilst also
providing the necessary depth and photometric redshift accuracy to trace the
uJy radio population, found through the proposed MeerKAT surveys. Such surveys
will lead to an accurate picture of evolution of star-formation and accretion
activity traced at radio wavelengths. Furthermore, SALT spectroscopy could play
a crucial role in following up Herschel surveys with its large collecting area
and blue sensitivity which occupies a niche in instrumentation on 8- and 10-m
class telescopes.
