Meintjieskop is a hill in 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...

 on which the Union Buildings

Union Buildings

The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the Northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square and the Voortrekker Monument...

 (die Uniegebou(e) in Afrikaans) were constructed.

Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

The son of the famous Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius was the first president of the South African Republic, and also compiled the constitution of the Republic....

, later to become first president of the Transvaal Republic, was the original owner of the farm 'Elandsfontein' on which Meintjieskop stands. In 1856 Andries Francois du Toit (1813–1883), in exchange for a Basuto pony

Basuto pony

- Characteristics :The Basuto is considered a small horse, since it possesses horse-like characteristics, such as an exceptionally long stride. Basutos have a rather heavy head, a long neck and long, straight back, a straight shoulder, and a muscular, sloping croup. They have very tough legs and...

, acquired part of the farm, which he named 'Arcadia

Arcadia, Pretoria

Arcadia is a suburb in Pretoria, South Africa that is known for its historical buildings, embassies and hotels. The Union Buildings and the President's residence are also situated here.The main thoroughfare is Park Street...

'. He was also 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...

’s first magistrate

Magistrate

A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...

and was responsible for planning the layout of the city. During this period he sold his land for £1200 to Stephanus Jacobus Meintjies (1819–1887), and by 1870 it bore the name Meintjieskop.

Meintjieskop is part of the Witwatersberg Ridge, which runs east-west through Pretoria. Geologically it forms part of the Pretoria Group of the Transvaal sequence.