Polokwane

Polokwane Pietersburg
—  City  —
Nickname(s): City of stars
Motto: Naturally Progressive
Polokwane
Coordinates:
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
District municipality	Capricorn
Local municipality	Polokwane
Government
- Executive Mayor	Thabo Makunyane[1]
Population (2001)
- Total	508,272
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)

Polokwane,^[2][3] meaning "Place of Safety",^[2][4] is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name,^[3] Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population of the municipality exceeds 500,000 (2001). Polokwane was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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 Joubert. The British built a concentration camp at Pietersburg during the Boer War to house almost 4,000 Boer women and children. The town officially became a city on April 23, 1992; on February 25, 2005, the government declared the official English name of the city to be the Northern Sotho one, Polokwane. The city was the site of the ANC national conference which saw Jacob Zuma take over as head of the party.^[5]

Demographics

In 1904 Pietersburg had a population of 3,276, of whom 1,620 (49.5%) were whites.^[6] 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 dismantle of apartheid the city still retained a large white population. Neighboring townships have an overwhelming (if not exclusive) black majority.

Climate

Polokwane features a semi-arid climate under the Koppen climate classification. Despite its position on the Tropic of Capricorn,^[8] the climate is tempered by its position on a plateau 1230 meters above sea level.^[9] Average temperatures reach around 21–22 °C (70–72 °F) in January and fall to 11 °C (52 °F) in July.^[9] As with much of inland South Africa, Polokwane has experienced notably warmer seasons over the last decade than its long term average.^[10] 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.^[11]

Transport

Air

The Gateway International Airport (IATA: PTG, ICAO: FAPP),^[12] also known as Polokwane or Pietersburg Airport, is located just outside the city.

Road

The city is connected to other mayor cities in South Africa via the N1, which connects Polokwane to Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Polokwane lies halfway between Gauteng (300 km) and Zimbabwe (200 km) on the N1 road.

Society and culture

Media

The South African Broadcasting Corporation has a branch located in the city.^[13] The city also hosts a branch for the country's largest independent radio station, Jacaranda RM/FM, which is broadcast from either Pretoria, Nelspruit or Polokwane.^[14] The city also has a selection of locally distributed newspapers.

Museums, momuments and memorials

• The Bakone Malapa Northern Sotho 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.^[15]
• Eersteling Monuments — The site of the country's first gold crushing site and its first gold power plant are marked by monuments.^[16]

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 Polokwane 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.

Sports

Inside Peter Mokaba stadium

Soccer

Winners Park F.C., a South African football club, is based in the city.

Stadiums

• Peter Mokaba Stadium, a newly constructed stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup^[17]
• Pietersburg Stadium

Tourism

Polokwane provides access to various nature and wildlife viewing opportunities for ecotourists. 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 environment. The Moletzie Bird Sanctuary protects rare birds like the Cape Vulture. The Modjardji Rainforest holds the largest concentration of indigenous cycads in the world, and Cheune Crocodile Farm provides a place to learn about the life of crocodiles.^[16]

The city is considered the premier hunting destination in South Africa.

Commerce and industry

The city hosts several mayor industries such as Coca-Cola^[18] and South African Breweries.^[19] 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.

Education

Tertiary education

The Tshwane University of Technology, and the University of South Africa both have a satellite campus in the city.^[20][21]. The University of Limpopo is situated about 30 km outside Polokwane.

Secondary education

• Pietersburg Hoërskool (PHS)
• Tom Naude High School
• Noorderland High School
• Northern Academy
• Capricorn High School
• Heuwelkruin Kollege
• Flora Park Comprehensive High School (FCHS)

Shopping malls

• Limpopo Mall
• Savannah Mall*
• Mall of the North* - to be opened April 2011^[22]

* The malls with an asterix are malls with at least a 6-screen cinema complex.

References

External links

• Polokwane Info
• Polokwane Information
• City of Polokwane official website
• Fist Mountain (Pietersburg in literature)