Pretoria or Tshwane

In 1855, the city of Pretoria was founded by Marthinus Wessel Pretorius. He named the small settlement after his father, Andries Pretorius, one of the leaders of the Great Trek. Pretoria lies approximately 50 km north of Johannesburg and, as the seat of government, is considerably quieter.

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The city is laid out on a spacious scale and the streets in the centre are wide because, in the past, ox-drawn carts had to be able to turn round there. From 1860 to 1910, Pretoria was the capital of the South African Republic and, since 1910, it has been the administrative capital of South Africa. This means that the government and its civil service are based in Pretoria.

The southern skyline of the city is dominated by the silhouette of the Voortrekkers Monument.

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This monument symbolises the courage and endurance of the first trekkers in the second half of the 19th century. Erected in 1949, this monument stands as a symbol of the pioneers who took part in the Great Trek between 1835 and 1854. They were Dutch farmers, known as the Voortrekkers, who fled the Cape Colony due to disagreements with the British, who had abolished slavery there in 1835.

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The historic centre of Pretoria is Kerkplein. The square takes its name from the church that once stood there. In the centre of Kerkplein stands a statue of Paul Kruger, designed by the Dutch architect Anton van Wouw. Kerkplein is, incidentally, full of Dutch influences; for example, the Dutch architect Sytze Wierda designed the Government Building and the Palace of Justice on that very square. From Meintjieskop Hill, the Union Building dominates the cityscape of Pretoria.

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Pretoria is known for its beautiful jacaranda trees.