FAST FACTS ABOUT TSHWANE | city-of-tshwane

FAST FACTS

Tshwane is the SeTswana name of the Apies River, which flows through Pretoria. The district of Tshwane is named after a legendary chief who ruled in the region.

The river valley in Tshwane which was to become Pretoria was previously occupied by the Bakwena people and later by the Ndebele, who were Zulu migrants. There is evidence of earlier hunter/gatherer habitation stretching back into pre-history.

Pretoria became the capital of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Today it is the administrative seat of the South African government, and one of three capital cities in South Africa.

The region is served by OR Tambo International Airport, about 60km away and accessed via the N4. The N1, which runs north through Gauteng and on to Limpopo, bisects Tshwane, which is about 60km north of Johannesburg.

The Tshwane branch of the Gautrain Rapid Transit System links the CBD to both the airport and to Sandton. Stations are located at Centurion, Pretoria and Hatfield. Tshwane is about 1 350m above sea level, in a sheltered valley, so the city is usually two or three degrees warmer than Johannesburg. Summers are hot with afternoon thunderstorms and winters are short and reasonably mild, with early morning frosts and sunny afternoons.

Tshwane is pleasant to visit year-round, but late spring is when the city’s thousands of lilac-flowered jacaranda trees are in blossom, making for a particularly striking display.

The people of Tshwane are sport-loving and the region boasts a number of world-class stadiums. Loftus Versfeld is used for rugby and soccer, as well as music concerts, and is the home of the Blue Bulls, Pretoria’s rugby side, as well as the Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United soccer clubs.

PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY

Tshwane has a diversified and vibrant economy with significant manufacturing, diversified services and substantial private wealth.

The national government is centred here and all state departments are represented.

International embassies are also located in Tshwane, together with a lively expatriatecommunity.

Home to seven of eight national science councils and four universities, Tshwane is a national centre for research. As one of its initiatives, it is positioning itself as a “knowledge economy”. The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), the HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council), the ARC (Agricultural Research Council), the NRF (National Research Foundation), the MRI (Medical Research Institute), the VRI (Veterinary Research Institute) and the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) are all located here.

ATTRACTIONS AT A GLANCE

Freedom Park – designed on 52ha on Salvokop in Pretoria and opened in 2007 – is a heritage project dedicated to the ideals of democracy.

The Union Buildings on Meintjieskop overlook Pretoria. They were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and are monumental in style.

Smuts House Museum, in the pretty village of Irene, southeast of Pretoria, reveals much about the life and spirit of South African statesman General Jan Smuts. It’s also worth exploring the Irene Village Market in the shady museum grounds.

Other places to visit include Kruger House, Pretoria Zoo, Transvaal Museum, the State Theatre (featuring the Academy Gallery), the SA Air Force Museum, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, the Voortrekker Monument, National Cultural History Museum and Tswaing Meteroite Crater. The University of South Africa’s (Unisa’s) striking main campus lies just south of Pretoria.

Pretoria’s suburb of Hatfield offers some of the city’s best restaurants as well as quaint guesthouses, boutique hotels and trendy shops. Menlyn Park is one of South Africa’s biggest malls, offering great shopping, food and other activities.