Facts & History

PRETORIA

Population 2.2 million
Pretoria is known as the “Jacaranda City”
Tshwane is the Setswane name of the Apies River that flows through the city
The administrative capital of South Africa and one of the oldest cities in South Africa
Hosts the second largest number of embassies in the world

The Ndebele people were the first to settle along the Tshwane River
Pretoria became the capital of the “Zuid-Africaanche Republiek” (ZAR) in 1855, a territory claimed by the Dutch settlers in South Africa
The city of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established in 2000 and includes the city of Pretoria

The Union Buildings – Pretoria’s most famous landmark
Church Square – originally a market place where farmers gathered with their ox-wagons and tents at the time of “nagmaal” or Holy Communion
Freedom Park – offers a panoramic view of Pretoria
Voortrekker Monument – commemorates the pioneers of mainly French, German and Dutch descent who left the Cape around 1835 to travel to the interior of the country in search of independence and freedom
Groenkloof Nature Reserve – dates back to 1895 when President Paul Kruger proclaimed the valley a game sanctuary, the first in Africa
Tshwane Market – a unique fresh produce market