Pretoria, also known as Tshwane, is a city in Gauteng province and the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa. It stretches along both sides of the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. Pretoria is well-planned and famous for its streets lined with jacaranda trees. The city has a reputation as an academic center and a hub of research.
Union Buildings in Pretoria
Historical Background
Pretoria was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers. He named it after his father, Andries Pretorius, and chose a spot on the banks of the Apies River (Afrikaans for "Monkeys river") to be the new capital of the South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek; ZAR). The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over Dingane and the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River in 1838. He also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which the United Kingdom acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal. In 1860, it became the capital of the Transvaal and was officially declared a city in 1931. In 1910, Pretoria became the administrative capital of South Africa, with Cape Town serving as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Between 1910 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal.
During the First Boer War, the city was besieged by Republican forces in December 1880 and March 1881. During the South African War (1899-1902), Winston Churchill was imprisoned there (1899) until his escape. The Second Boer War resulted in the end of the Transvaal Republic and start of British hegemony in South Africa. The Pretoria Forts were built for the defense of the city just prior to the Second Boer War. The Peace of Vereeniging, ending the war, was signed at Melrose House on May 31, 1902.
Modern Tshwane
In 2000, Pretoria became part of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which was formed by the amalgamation of several former local authorities, including Bronkhorstspruit, Centurion, Cullinan, Hammanskraal, and Soshanguve.
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Climate
Pretoria has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) with long hot, rainy summers, and short, dry and mild winters. The city experiences the typical winters of South Africa, with cold, clear nights and mild to moderately warm days. Rain is chiefly concentrated in the summer months, with drought conditions prevailing over the winter months, when frosts may be sharp. The year 2014 was one of the wettest on record for the city. In 2015, Pretoria saw its worst drought since 1982; the month of November 2015 saw new records broken for high temperatures, with 43 °C (109 °F) recorded on 11 November after three weeks of temperatures between 35 °C (95 °F) and 43 °C (109 °F).
Demographics
Depending on the extent of the area understood to constitute "Pretoria", the population ranges from 700,000 to 2.95 million. The main languages spoken in Pretoria are Sepedi, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, Afrikaans, and English. The city of Pretoria has the largest white population in Africa. Even since the end of Apartheid, Pretoria itself has had a white majority, albeit with an ever-increasing black middle-class. However, in the townships of Mamelodi, Soshanguve and Atteridgeville black people make up close to all of the population. The lower estimate for the population of Pretoria includes largely former white-designated areas, and there is therefore a white majority.
A virtual tour through beautiful Pretoria, South Africa
Economy and Infrastructure
Pretoria is primarily a seat of government, but it is also an important rail and industrial center. Economic activities include engineering, food processing, and diamond mining. The city is home to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Human Sciences Research Council. It also hosts the National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards.
Commuter rail services around Pretoria are operated by Metrorail. Pretoria Station is a departure point for the Blue Train luxury train. Various bus companies exist in Pretoria, of which PUTCO is one of the oldest and most recognised. The N1 is the major freeway that runs through Pretoria. For scheduled air services, Pretoria is served by Johannesburg's airports: OR Tambo International and Lanseria. Wonderboom Airport in the suburb of Annlin in the north of Pretoria primarily services light commercial and private aircraft.
Culture and Landmarks
Pretoria is known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the approximately 60,000-70,000 Jacarandas that line its streets. Pretoria has over the years had very diverse cultural influences and this is reflected in the architectural styles that can be found in the city. Some of the notable structures in Pretoria include the late 19th century Palace of Justice, the early 20th century Union Buildings, the post-war Voortrekker Monument, the diverse buildings dotting the main campuses of both the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa, traditional Cape Dutch style Mahlamba Ndlopfu (the President's House), the Neo-Byzantine Old Synagogue, the more modern Reserve Bank of South Africa (office skyscraper) and the Telkom Lukasrand Tower.
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Voortrekker Monument
Despite the many corporate offices, small businesses, shops, and government departments that are situated in Pretoria's sprawling suburbs, its Central Business District still retains its status as the traditional center of government and commerce. The area contains a large number of historical buildings, monuments, and museums that include the Pretoria City Hall, National Library of South Africa, Pretorius Square, Church Square (along with its many historical buildings and statues), and the Ou Raadsaal.
Pretoria is home to the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, as well as the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. There are also a number of smaller parks and gardens located throughout the city, including the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Pretorius Square gardens, the Pretoria Rosarium, Church Square, Pretoria Showgrounds, Springbok Park, Freedom Park, Jan Cilliers Park and Burgers Park, the oldest park in the city and now a national monument.
The Jacarandas of Pretoria
Pretoria's nickname "the Jacaranda City" comes from the around 70,000 jacaranda trees that grow in Pretoria and decorate the city each October with their purple blossoms. The first two trees were planted in 1888 in the garden of local gardener, J.D. Cilliers, at Myrtle Lodge on Celliers Street in Sunnyside. He obtained the seedlings from a Cape Town nurseryman who had harvested them in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
At the end of the 19th century, the flower and tree grower James Clark imported jacaranda seedlings from Australia and began growing them on a large scale. In November 1906, he donated two hundred small saplings to the Pretoria City Council, which planted them on Koch Street (today Bosman Street). The Jacaranda Carnival is an old tradition that was held from 1939 to 1964. After a hiatus of over twenty years, it resumed in 1985.
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Arts and Culture
Pretoria is home to an extensive portfolio of public art. A diverse and evolving city, Pretoria boasts a vibrant art scene and a variety of works that range from sculptures to murals to pieces by internationally and locally renowned artists. The Pretoria Art Museum is home to a vast collection of local artworks. A number of popular South African bands and musicians are originally from Pretoria. The song "Marching to Pretoria" refers to this city.
The Hip-hop scene in Pretoria is recognised as one of South Africa's most distinctive, marked by its distinctive use of Spitori- a Lingua franca blending SeTswana, Sepedi, Isizulu, Afrikaans and other languages. Bacardi is a style of music that originated in Pretoria. Amapiano has strong roots in Pretoria, where its early producers and DJs experimented with Bacardi rhythms and deep house elements.
Radio and Media
Several radio stations serve the Pretoria area, including:
- Jacaranda FM: A commercial station broadcasting in English and Afrikaans.
- Tuks FM: The radio station of the University of Pretoria.
- Radio Pretoria: A community-based radio station aimed at Afrikaners.
Pretoria News is a daily newspaper established in Pretoria in 1898. Beeld is an Afrikaans-language daily newspaper that is distributed in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and North West provinces.
Sports
One of the most popular sports in Pretoria is rugby union. Loftus Versfeld is home to the Blue Bulls, who compete in the domestic Currie Cup, and also to the Bulls in the international United Rugby Championship competition. Pretoria also hosted matches during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Association football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports in the city. There are two Premier Soccer League teams, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United.
Political Structure
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is governed by a municipal council consisting of 214 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. The political head of the municipality is the executive mayor.
Here is a summary of key aspects of Tshwane:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (Pretoria) |
| Founded | 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius |
| Location | Gauteng Province, South Africa |
| Administrative Capital | Republic of South Africa |
| Climate | Monsoon-influenced humid subtropical |
| Key Industries | Government, rail, industry, engineering, food processing, diamond mining |
| Nickname | Jacaranda City |
| Population | Ranges from 700,000 to 2.95 million |
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