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Polokwane

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This article is about the city of Polokwane, for the local municipality see Polokwane Local Municipality
Polokwane
Pietersburg
City
Nickname: 
City of stars
Motto: 
Naturally Progressive
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceLimpopo
District municipalityCapricorn
Local municipalityPolokwane
Government
 • Executive MayorThabo Makunyane[1]
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)

Polokwane[2][3], meaning Place of Safety,[4][2] is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also widely known[citation needed] by its former name,[3] Pietersburg.

History

In the 1840s, Voortrekkers under the leadership of Andries Potgieter established Zoutpansbergdorp, a town 100 km to the north west. This settlement had to be abandoned because of clashes with the local tribes. They founded a new town in 1886 and named it Pietersburg in honour of Voortrekker leader Petrus Jacobus Joubert. The British built a concentration camp here during the Boer War to house almost 4,000 Boer women and children. The town officially became a city on April 23, 1992; on February 25, 2005, the government declared the official English name of the city to be the Northern Sotho one, Polokwane. The new name means "Place of Safety".[4] The city is the major urban centre and capital city of the province, and indeed for the entire country north of Gauteng. More recently, Polokwane was the site of the ANC national conference which saw Jacob Zuma take over as head of the party.[5]

Demographics

In 1904 Pietersburg had a population of 3276 of whom 1620 (49.5%) were whites.[6] The remaining 50% were probably black. In 2001 the population of the Polokwane local municipality was 508,272. Currently, the city of Polokwane has a white majority (and an ever-increasing black minority), while neighboring townships have an overwhelming black majority. [citation needed]

Climate

Despite its position on the Tropic of Capricorn,[citation needed] the climate is tempered by its position on a plateau 1230 meters above sea level.[citation needed] Average temperatures reach around 21-22°C in January and fall to 11°C in July.[citation needed] As with much of inland South Africa, Polokwane has experienced notably warmer seasons over the last decade than its long term average.[7] Polokwane has a dry climate with a summer rainy season and a pronounced dry spell during winter. Average annual rainfall is 495mm, with December or (less often) January the wettest month and July the driest.[8]

Transport

Air

The Gateway International Airport (IATA: PTG, ICAO: FAPP),[citation needed] also known as Polokwane or Pietersburg Airport, is located just outside the city.

Road

The city is connected to other mayor cities in South Africa via the N1, which connects Polokwane to Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Polokwane lies halfway between Gauteng (300 km) and Zimbabwe (200 km) on the N1 road.

Society and culture

Media

The South African Broadcasting Corporation has a branch located in the city.[9] The city also host a branch for the country's largest independent radio station, Jacaranda RM/FM, which is broadcast from either Pretoria, Nelspruit or Polokwane.[10]. The city also has a selection of locally distributed newspapers.

Museums, momuments and memorials

  • The Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho Open-Air Museum — Depicts the traditional and modern-day lifestyle of this people.[citation needed]
  • Eersteling Monuments — The site of the country's first gold crushing site and its first gold power plant are marked by monuments.[citation needed]

Churches

Of Interest: One of the earliest churches established in Polokwane (then, Pietersburg) was the "English Church." Prior to 1894 there were occasional services for the English Church held by visiting priests in the local Court House. Work began on building a church in Market Street in 1895. The building was completed in 1897 and Christ Church Polokwane had a permanent venue. The church struggled with a lack of members during the Anglo-Boer war (Boer Wars) but regular services resumed in November 1901 and have continued to this day. The Anglican church moved from Market Street to Biccard Street in the 1960s. There is also a Roman Catholic church situated in Biccard street.

Sport

File:Peter Mokaba Inside.png
Inside Peter Mokaba stadium.

Soccer

Winners Park F.C. is based in the city.

Stadiums

Tourism

This area is seen as a place of "myths and legends".[citation needed] There are many game viewing opportunities, making Polokwane a popular ecotourism destination in Southern Africa.[citation needed] Limpopo is divided into four tourism regions, each representing a microcosm of the area's varied and interesting cultures.[citation needed]

The city is considered the premier hunting destination in South Africa.

Nature Reserves

The Pietersburg Game Reserve, which has more than 21 species and offers scenic walks.

Commerce and Industry

The city hosts several mayor industries such as Coca-Cola[12] and South African Breweries [13]. As the capital of the Limpopo province the city also has a large commercial area with the four largest banks in the country all having at least three branches in the city.

Education

Tertiary education

The Tshwane University of Technology and the University of South Africa both have a satellite campus in the city.[14] [15]

Secondary education

  • Pietersburg Hoërskool (PHS)
  • Tom Naude High School
  • Noorderland High School
  • Northern Academy
  • Capricorn High School

Shopping Malls

  • Limpopo Mall
  • Savannah Mall*
  • Mall of the North* - to be opened April 2011 [16]

Please note: The malls with and asterix are malls with at least a 6-screen cinema complex.

References

  1. ^ www.polokwane.org.za
  2. ^ a b Polokwane - The Heart of the Limpopo Province. City of Polokwane official website. Retrieved on Oct 15, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Republic of South Africa (7 January 2005). "Department of Arts and Culture: Approval of Official Place Names". Government Gazette. Retrieved Oct 15, 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Our history". Polokwane Local Municipality. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  5. ^ South Africa | Zuma comes out on top | Economist.com
  6. ^ http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Pietersburg
  7. ^ Average monthly and annual temperatures, Polokwane/Pietersburg 1932– 2007, GISS
  8. ^ GHCN monthly rainfall Pietersburg , NGDC, 1932-1992
  9. ^ http://www.sabc.co.za/portal/site/sabc/menuitem.6001ff5f1e8babc38b62eb68a24daeb9/
  10. ^ http://www.jacarandarmfm.com/
  11. ^ http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5007758/index.html
  12. ^ http://www.cocacola.co.za/bottling_profile_coca_cola_fortune.aspx
  13. ^ http://www.sablimited.co.za/sablimited/view/sablimited/en/page400
  14. ^ www.tut.ac.za/About%20Us/
  15. ^ www.unisa.ac.za
  16. ^ http://www.mallofthenorth.co.za/
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