TSHWANE/ PRETORIA
Tshwane/Pretoria’s rich and colourful heritage is reflected in the city’s myriad of museums and monuments and is punctuated by contemporary arts and craft markets, making the city alive with a unique blend of new and old.
Tshwane/Pretoria is the capital of South Africa. Many embassies thus call this city their home. The Union Buildings house the administration of the country and have also been the setting for all the presidential inaugurations of Nelson Mandela,Thabo Mbeki and the incumbent South African president, Jacob Zuma. These sandstone buildings offer beautiful views over the city.
There is a lively culture in the city with a variety of museums, monuments, historical buildings and art centres. The Science and Technology Museum offers a tactile experience of science at work. The South African mint has a minting press dating back to 1892, which is still in operation.
Church Square and the State Theatre often host international and national performances. There are also two nature reserves where visitors can view wildlife such as buffalo, antelope, cheetah, jackal, giraffe and sable.
History
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established on 5 December 2000. It is made up of 13 former city and town councils and is managed by means of an executive mayoral system. These councils include Pretoria, Centurion, Akasia and Soshanguve, and the surrounding areas of Mabopane, Atteridgeville, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Hammanskraal, Temba, Pienaarsrivier, Crocodile River and Mamelodi.
The Ndebele people were the first people to settle along the Tshwane River, which was named after a Ndebele chief. This would later become the site for Pretoria.
In 1855, it became the first capital of the Zuid-Afrikaanche Republiek (ZAR), a territory claimed by the Dutch settlers in South Africa.
The Rivonia Treason Trial (1956-1961), which led to the prosecution and imprisonment of Nelson Mandela among others, was held in Pretoria. In 1994, the same accused would also be sworn into office as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. The stadium has been used for major sporting events since 1903, and the first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2,000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923.
Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades. It has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country’s top rugby teams, the Blue Bulls.
Loftus Versfeld is in the heart of Tshwane/Pretoria and currently has a seating capacity of 50,000. It has hosted many significant matches including during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations.
It is now used by Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United as their home ground.
South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, achieved its first ever victory over a European side at this venue when they beat Sweden 1-0 in 1999.
