Potchefstroom
Province
Potchefstroom [ pɔtʃɛfstrʊəm ] (formerly Mooiriviersburg ) is a city in the South African NWFP. It is located in the historic province of Transvaal, about 120 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg on the river Mooirivier. The city has 43,448 inhabitants (as of 2011).
Administrative
The municipality (local municipality ) Tlokwe (formerly Potchefstroom ), on a total area of 2673 km ² includes not only the city itself also several smaller towns and a wide surrounding area, had at the last census (2011 ) a population of 162 762 inhabitants.
Traffic
The city is well connected to the national rail and road network. One coming from the region Johannesburg railway line connecting Potchefstroom on subsequent branches with the industrial region around Vereeniging and Sasolburg, with the mining region of and around Welkom, with the diamonds of Kimberley region and with the Agraregion to Lichtenburg.
By the Potchefstroom N12 national road runs. This leads both to Gauteng and Mpumalanga in the north- east and to the Western Cape to the southwest. The regional road R53 comes from Parys in the south and extends over Potchefstroom north to the towns of Ventersdorp and Swartruggens where they einmündend ends in the N4. The northern branch of the R501 leads to Carletonville on the western edge of the province of Gauteng. In the south, it goes to the region of Viljoenskroon.
The nearest regional airport for the domestic air traffic is in Parys.
History
The city was on 22 December 1838 by Andries Hendrik Potgieter, the leader of the Voortrekkers, as Mooiriviersburg founded and is considered the oldest European settlement in the territory of the Transvaal. At the same time it was the capital of the Boer Republic of Potchefstroom which until 1848 with the city of Winburg and surrounding areas the Boer Republic of Winburg - Potchefstroom was formed in 1844 to Andries Hendrik Potgieter whose president was elected. She later went on in the Republic of Transvaal. Potchefstroom was the first capital until 1860.
The so-called First Boer War, a revolt of the Boers, in which they could fight for the independence of the Transvaal by Britain, broke out on 16 December 1880 in Potchefstroom with the siege of the old forts. The siege ended peacefully on March 23, 1881.
During the Second Boer War in Potchefstroom was one of the first concentration camps for Boer civilians.
Education and Culture
In Potchefstroom is the Hauptkampus the North - West University, Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher formerly Education. It is visited by nearly 27,000 students.
The city plays host to the Art Festival Aardklop, the end of September each year takes place and many artists, musicians and attracts tourists.
Attractions
The Potchefstroom Museum has several locations. Located in the Main Street Gouws museum consists of three art galleries. The Totius House Museum is built in the style of the Edwardian period. Here the poet and translator of the Bible Totius lived. This museum is located on the corner of moles Street / Esselen Street. In Van der Hoff Way is the President Pretorius Museum that gives a glimpse into the life of the first President of the Republic of South Africa.
Sports
In Potchefstroom, the African Continental Cycling Centre is located ( ACCC ) to be trained in the cyclists from all African countries. Head of the institution is the former racing driver Jean -Pierre van Zyl, who himself comes from Potchefstroom.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Jackie Pretorius, race car driver
- Jean -Pierre van Zyl, racing cyclist