Polokwane
Encyclopedia
Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",
is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality
Polokwane Local Municipality
The Polokwane Local Municipality is a local municipality located within the Capricorn District in the Limpopo Province of South Africa...
and the capital of the Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
province, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
. The population of the municipality exceeds 500,000 (2001). Polokwane was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
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 JoubertPetrus Jacobus Joubert
Petrus Jacobus Joubert , better known as Piet Joubert was Commandant-General of the South African Republic from 1880 to 1900.-Early life:...
. The British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
built a concentration camp at Pietersburg during the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
to house almost 4,000 Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
women and children. The town officially became a city on April 23, 1992; on February 25, 2005, the government declared the official name of the city as Polokwane, a name that was generally in use by the speakers of Northern Sotho
Northern Sotho language
Northern Sotho , also inaccurately known by the name of a major dialect, Pedi or sePedi, is one of the official languages of South Africa, and is spoken by 4,208,980 people — in the South African provinces of Gauteng,...
. The city was the site of the ANC national conference which saw Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
take over as head of the party.
Demographics
In 1904 Pietersburg had a population of 3,276, of whom 1,620 (49.5%) were whites. The remaining 50% were probably black. Pietersburg was a white-designated area during apartheid and so had an overwhelming white majority before 1990. After the dismantling of apartheid the city still retained a large white population. Neighbouring townships have an overwhelming (if not exclusive) black majority.Districts/suburbs/townships
Under the apartheid government certain areas were allocated to certain racial groups; these areas still have a majority of these racial groups present.- Westernburg - Former ColouredColouredIn the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured refers to an heterogenous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, various Khoisan and Bantu tribes of Southern Africa, West Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, India, Mozambique,...
townshipTownship (South Africa)In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities... - SeshegoSeshegoSeshego is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town lies directly northwest of Polokwane. In 2001 its population was 121,639. Until 1974 Seshego was the capital of the non-independent bantustan of Lebowa, which was abolished in 1994...
- black township outside Polokwane - Nirvana - Former Indian township
Former White suburbs in the city include:
- Bendor
- Flora-Park
- Fauna-Park
- Penina Park
- Hospital Park
- Ster Park
These suburbs no longer host exclusive racial groups and the local government has launched projects to force integration, such as building low-cost housing (primarily donated to poor black people) in former "White suburbs" such as Bendor. This has led to more gated communities such as Cycad Estate, Bendor Village, Woodlands and Broadlands being erected on the outskirts of the city and further away from the "poor-areas".
Climate
Polokwane features a semi-arid climate under the Koppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. Despite its position on the Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
, the climate is tempered by its position on a plateau 1230 meters above sea level. Average temperatures reach around 21–22 °C (69.8–71.6 F) in January and fall to 11 °C (51.8 °F) in July. As with much of inland South Africa, Polokwane has experienced notably warmer seasons over the last decade than its long term average.
Polokwane has a dry climate with a summer rainy season and a pronounced dry spell during winter. Average annual rainfall is 495 millimetres (19.5 in), with December or (less often) January the wettest month and July the driest.
Air
A public airport, Polokwane International AirportPolokwane International Airport
Polokwane International Airport, formerly known as Pietersburg International Airport or Gateway International Airport , is an airport serving the city of Polokwane in the South African province of Limpopo. The airport is located 5 km north of the city...
, , is located just North of the city. There are weekly flights to Johannesburg.
Road
Polokwane lies roughly halfway between Gauteng (300 km) and the Zimbabwean border (200 km) on the N1 highway, which connects Zimbabwe with the major cities of South Africa, such as PretoriaPretoria
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...
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
and Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Running east the R71 connects the city with Tzaneen
Tzaneen
Tzaneen is a small town situated in the Mopani district of the Limpopo province in South Africa. It is in a fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a 20,000 km² region...
, Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa is a town situated in the Mopani district, halfway up along the length of the Kruger National Park in the Limpopo province in South Africa. The Lowveld, also known as Valley of the Olifants, has the highest winter temperatures in South Africa. The rainfall is low and the average winter...
and the Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
.
On the outskirts of Polokwane when approachng from the direction of Johannesburg is the Nelson Mandela road traffic island which was built prior to the 2010 Fifa World Cup as part of beautifying the city for the event.
There are a number of private bus services running in the city and also services connecting Polokwane to other major centers in the country.
Railways
Polokwane is connected to JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and other major centres via rail. Agricultural produce in the area, including tomatoes, citrus fruit, bananas and avocados, is also transported via freight rail.
Media
The South African Broadcasting CorporationSouth African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
has a branch located in the city. The city also hosts a branch for the country's largest independent radio station, Jacaranda RM/FM, which is broadcast from either 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...
, Nelspruit
Nelspruit
Nelspruit is a city of more than 500,000 people situated in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River, Nelspruit lies about west of the Mozambique border and east of Johannesburg. The towns of Nelspruit are Kanyamazane and Pienaar...
or Polokwane. The 1st and only commercial radio station in Limpopo, CapricornFM also broadcasts from the city. The city also has a selection of locally distributed newspapers.
Museums, momuments and memorials
- The Bakone Malapa Northern SothoPedi peoplePedi, , has been a cultural/linguistic term. It was previously used to describe the entire set of people speaking various dialects of the Sotho language who live in the northern Transvaal of South Africa...
Open-Air Museum — Depicts the traditional and modern-day lifestyle of the Bakone people. The museum is centered on a traditional village still occupied by members of the tribe, who sell various crafts to tourists. Background information can be obtained in the visitor center. Within the museum complex are archaeological sites with remains of iron- and copper-smelting installations, as well as rock paintings from around 1000 B.C. - Eersteling Monuments — The site of the country's first gold crushing site and its first gold power plant are marked by monuments.
- The Irish House — Historic building which functions as a museum.
Churches
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 PolokwaneChrist Church Polokwane
Christ Church is a parish in the Anglican Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist, which falls under the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It is the only Anglican church in Polokwane . The church has a long and diverse history going back over a hundred years.-History:Pietersburg was founded in 1886...
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.
Cricket
The Polokwane Cricket Club is one of the oldest in the country and was established in 1902.Soccer
Winners Park F.C., a South African football club, is based in the city.Swimming
Polokwane has a number of swimming clubs. Former Olympic gold-medalist and world-record swimmer Lyndon FernsLyndon Ferns
Lyndon Ferns is a retired Olympic gold-medalist and former world record swimmer from South Africa. He swam for South Africa at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics....
is from the city.
Tennis
There is a large tennis club situated in the city and various local tournaments are held regularly.Stadiums
- Peter Mokaba StadiumPeter Mokaba StadiumThe Peter Mokaba Stadium is a football stadium in Polokwane , South Africa, that was used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It has a capacity of 41,733. and was named after Peter Mokaba, a former leader of the ANC Youth League...
, a newly constructed stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010... - Pietersburg Stadium
Tourism
Polokwane provides access to various nature and wildlife viewing opportunities for ecotouristsEcotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
. The Polokwane Bird and Reptile Park is home to over 280 species of birds. The Polokwane Game Reserve houses various South African species of wildlife, birdlife, and plants in an unspoiled bushveld
Bushveld
The Bushveld is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of th Matabeleland North provinces of...
environment. The Moletzie Bird Sanctuary protects rare birds like the Cape Vulture
Cape Vulture
The Cape Griffon or Cape Vulture , also known as Kolbe's Vulture, is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia...
. The Modjardji Rainforest holds the largest concentration of indigenous cycad
Cycad
Cycads are seed plants typically characterized by a stout and woody trunk with a crown of large, hard and stiff, evergreen leaves. They usually have pinnate leaves. The individual plants are either all male or all female . Cycads vary in size from having a trunk that is only a few centimeters...
s in the world, and Cheune Crocodile Farm provides a place to learn about the life of crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s.
Polokwane has an extensive art collection in the city's art gallery, that's open to the public. Apart from its extensive art collection, Polokwane has more public sculptures per capita in its parks than anywhere else in South Africa. Polokwane was also the first to unveil a bust of the ex-president Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
in its City Square(Civic Gardens), and it was authorized by Nelson Mandela himself.
The city is considered the premier hunting destination in South Africa.
Commerce and industry
The city hosts several mayor industries such as Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and South African Breweries
South African Breweries
The South African Breweries , then called Castle Breweries, was founded in 1895 specifically to serve a new market of miners and prospectors in and around Johannesburg. Two years later, it became the first industrial company to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange...
. 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.
Tertiary education
The Tshwane University of TechnologyTshwane University of Technology
Tshwane University of Technology is a higher education institution in South Africa that came into being through a merger of three technikons — Technikon Northern Gauteng, Technikon North-West and Technikon Pretoria....
, and the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
both have a satellite campus in the city. The University of Limpopo
University of Limpopo
The University of Limpopo is a university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa...
is situated about 30 km outside Polokwane.
Secondary education
- Pietersburg Hoërskool (PHS) http://www.pieties.co.za/
- Tom Naude High School
- Noorderland High School
- Northern Academy
- Capricorn High School
- Heuwelkruin Kollege
- Flora Park Comprehensive High School (FCHS)
- Mookamedi High School
Shopping malls
- Limpopo Mall
- Savannah Mall*
- Mall of the North*