Pretoria was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius and chose a spot on the banks of the Apies rivier (Afrikaans for "Monkeys river") to be the new capital of the South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek; ZAR).

When and by who was it founded Pretoria?

Founded in 1855 by Marthinus, son of Andries Pretorius, the Boer statesman for whom the city was named, it became the capital of the Transvaal in 1860, administrative capital of South Africa in 1910, and a city in 1931.

What influenced the location of Pretoria?

Around the 1600s, the area which was to become the location of the city of Pretoria, was inhabited by an African ethnic group, the Southern Transvaal Ndebele's. They are thought to have settled there after travelling from Natal to the Transvaal region led by a chief called Musi.

When was Pretoria named?

Pretoria was named after Andries Pretorius, who led the Afrikaner settlers on a "great trek" from British Cape Town to set up their own settlements inland and defeated Zulu tribesmen in the battle of Blood River in the 1830s. His son, Marthinus, founded Pretoria in 1855 and named the town after his father.

Why is Pretoria called Tshwane?

Tshwane is the Tswana name for the Apies River. This name has been used by Tswana speakers for many years also to refer to the city of Pretoria. In the process of the transformation of geographical names in South Africa, the name Tshwane has been proposed as a replacement for the name Pretoria .

South African History Documentary: 1652-1902

Who lived in Pretoria first?

First inhabitants

The Southern Transvaal Ndebele occupied the river valley, which was to become the location of the city of Pretoria, by around 1600. During the difaqane in Natal, another band of refugees arrived in this area under the leadership of Mzilikazi.

Is Centurion in Pretoria or Johannesburg?

Centurion (previously known as Verwoerdburg and before that Lyttelton) is an area with 236,580 inhabitants in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, between Pretoria and Midrand (Johannesburg).

When was Pretoria changed to Tshwane?

of Pretoria to Tshwane. The meeting took a resolution to start necessary administrative processes to effect the name change. On the 06 and 07 April 2005 Pretoria News placed an advertisement on the Tshwane Metro Council resolution and calling for public comments.

What does the word Tshwane mean?

Tshwane, a Setswana word for 'we are the same', [v] is also believed to be the name of the son of a local Nguni pre-colonial headman, chief Musi, who had lived in the east of Pretoria in the late 1700s or early 1800s. [

What does the word Pretoria mean?

Noun. 1. Pretoria - city in the Transvaal; the seat of the executive branch of the government of South Africa. capital of South Africa.

What tribe is Pretoria?

Pretoria has been a Boer stronghold for over 160 years though it was originally populated by the Sotho and Ndebele peoples. The Matabele people arrived around 1820 and the three groups struggled among themselves to control the region. In 1837 Voortrekkers (Boers) arrived and defeated the indigenous tribes at Mosega.

Has the name Pretoria changed?

Pretoria is set for a name change following a long battle that went to the courts, city mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, said on Thursday. Pretoria is currently the city name, while Tshwane is the municipal name for the area.

What is the oldest building in Pretoria?

The Panagos Building is one of the oldest buildings in Pretoria. It appears as though the current owners intend to make alterations and additions without the necessary permit from the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority Gauteng (PHRAG).

Who marched to Pretoria?

Rahima Moosa, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Sophia Williams led the 1956 Women's March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, carrying stacks of petitions to present to the government.

What does Soweto stand for?

The City Council settled for the acronym SOWETO (South West Townships). The name Soweto was first used in 1963 and within a short period of time, following the 1976 uprising of students in the township, the name became internationally known.

What does mphephu mean?

Mphephu is a Xitsonga word meaning "-" in English. Oxford definition.

What is the difference between Tshwane and Pretoria?

While some people say Pretoria refers to the city and Tshwane the municipal district, the official site for the capital, tshwane.gov.za, bids you “Welcome to the City of Tshwane”. ... Pretoria, however, is still used as a dateline and a destination for travel sites.

Is Pretoria now Tshwane?

Pretoria, as one components of Tshwane, is the administrative capital of South Africa and houses the Union Buildings.

How did Gauteng get its name?

The name Gauteng is derived from the Sotho-Tswana name, gauta meaning "gold". There was a thriving gold industry in the province following the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg.

How is Pretoria divided?

Pretoria/Tshwane is divided into 7 regions namely Pretoria North, Far North, Central Western, Southern, Pretoria Far East, Eastern, Bronkhorstspruit. Region 3 not only include Pretoria CBD, Brooklyn, Hatfield but also the Moot area and Pretoria West. Both Moot and Pretoria West are listed separately below.

Which part of Pretoria is Hatfield?

Hatfield lies in the heart of Pretoria, just outside the city centre between Arcadia and Lynnwood. Hatfield is close to the University and to Loftus Versfeld ... cont.

Why is Pretoria a capital city?

When asked about a single capital, most people would point to Pretoria. Pretoria is the administrative capital. It is home to the executive branch of the South African government, including the President of the Cabinet. The city also hosts many departments of government and foreign embassies.