Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Encyclopedia
Mahlamba Ndlopfu is the Official Residence for the President of South Africa
in Bryntirion
, Pretoria
.
The house, formerly called Libertas, was designed by Architect Gerard Moerdijk
in a traditional Cape Dutch
style and completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South Africa. It is surrounded by impressive gardens. Through the years, slight changes were made on the building. After the post of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, it became the presidential residence. In 1995 the name of the residence was changed in the present-day name. Mahlamba Ndlopfu is a term of the Xitsonga language, the language of the Shangaan
(or Tsonga) people. It means "The new dawn".
President of South Africa
The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
in Bryntirion
Bryntirion Estate
Bryntirion Estate incorporates the Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence of the president of South Africa, the vice president's residence, the presidential guest house, many homes of cabinet ministers, 15 tennis courts, and a 9 hole presidential golf course with a helipad...
, Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
.
The house, formerly called Libertas, was designed by Architect Gerard Moerdijk
Gerard Moerdijk
Gerard Leendert Pieter Moerdijk , also known as Gerard Moerdyk, was a South African architect best-known for designing the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria....
in a traditional Cape Dutch
Cape Dutch architecture
-Introduction:Cape Dutch architecture is an architectural style found in the Western Cape of South Africa. The style was prominent in the early days of the Cape Colony, and the name derives from the fact that the initial settlers of the Cape were primarily Dutch...
style and completed in 1940 as the official residence for the Prime Minister of South Africa. It is surrounded by impressive gardens. Through the years, slight changes were made on the building. After the post of Prime Minister was abolished in 1984, it became the presidential residence. In 1995 the name of the residence was changed in the present-day name. Mahlamba Ndlopfu is a term of the Xitsonga language, the language of the Shangaan
Shangaan
The Tsonga people inhabit the southern coastal plain of Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, and the Limpopo Province of South Africa...
(or Tsonga) people. It means "The new dawn".