Potchefstroom
| Potchefstroom | |||
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| Nickname(s): City of Expertise; Motswe Wa Boitseanape; Stad van Deskundigheid | |||
  Potchefstroom
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| Coordinates: 26°42′54″S 27°06′12″E / 26.715°S 27.10333°ECoordinates: 26°42′54″S 27°06′12″E / 26.715°S 27.10333°E | |||
| Country | South Africa | ||
| Province | North West | ||
| Established | 1838 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Maphetle Maphetle | ||
| Area(Municipal boundaries) | |||
| - Total | 2,573 km2 (993.4 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,350 m (4,429 ft) | ||
| Population (2007)[1] | |||
| - Total | 124,351 | ||
| Time zone | South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2) | ||
| Area code(s) | 018 | ||
| Website | www.potch.info www.potch.co.za | ||
Potchefstroom is an academic city hosting the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (previously known as Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, by which name it was, and still is, famous abroad), situated on the banks of the Mooirivier (Afrikaans for 'pretty (or beautiful) river') The town is roughly 120 km (75 mi) west-southwest of Johannesburg and 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Klerksdorp in the North West Province of South Africa. The town's municipality wants to rename Potchefstroom to Tlokwe, although many residents oppose the change.
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[edit] Origins of the name Potchefstroom
There are various origins that are claimed for the origin of the name Potchefstroom. Firstly it is said to be: 'Potgieter' + 'Chef' + 'stroom'. Which attributes the name to the Voortrekker leader and town father Andries Potgieter, 'chef' an indication of leader of the emigrants and the 'stroom' referring to the Mooi River. Although Jenkins believes that this is the most widely recognized source of the name, it would be strange for the Voortrekker to refer to a leader as 'chef' or 'chief' as these are not words frequently used in Afrikaans at the day (Le Roux, 2008).
"Others however, attribute the name as having come from the word 'Potscherf', meaning broken pot, due to the cracks that appear in the soil of the Mooi River Valley during drought resembling a broken pot" (Jenkins, 1971:8).
M.L Fick thirdly suggests that Potchefstroom developed from the abbreviation of "Potgieterstroom" to "Potgerstroom" which in time became "Potchefstroom". However, this doesn't account for the use of "Potjestroom" which is found as inscription on many documents and photographs.
[edit] Name change
In 2006 the local municipality decided on a name change for the city, favouring 'Tlokwe' as the new name. The municipality changed its name to "Tlokwe City council", but the city's name remains "Potchefstroom". There is still a case hanging regarding the name change, which is primarily opposed by the local community organisation Aksie Potchefstroom / Action Potchefstroom.
[edit] History
The town, founded in 1838 by the Voortrekkers, is the second oldest settlement of people of European descent in the then Transvaal.The honour of oldest European settlement belongs to Klerksdorp, situated approximately 40 km (25 mi) to the West.
It served as the first capital of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) (South African Republic in English). Also, for a short time until 1840, the towns of Potchefstroom and Winburg as well as their surrounding territories were joined in a political entity known as the Republic of Winburg-Potchefstroom. Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter was elected as chief commandant.
Union with Maritzburg
In October 1840, after a meeting between Potgieter, Andries Pretorius and G.R. van Rooyen it was decided that Potchefstroom would unite with "Pieter Mouriets Burg" (Pietermaritzburg).
On the 16 December 1880, the first shots of the First Boer War were fired when the Boers laid siege to the old fort. The siege ended amicably on 23 March 1881. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women, children and elderly men.
At the opening of the City hall in 1909, General Jan Smuts, the then Colonial Secretary was asked about the possibility of Potchefstroom becoming the capital of the Union. He replied that the city stood no chance, but said that it should aim at being South Africa's biggest educational centre (Jenkins, 1971:104). This has led to the strong educational inclination of this, the 'city of expertise'.
Since 1997 the town has hosted to the annual Aardklop Arts Festival, a (mostly) Afrikaans arts festival held in late September each year.
[edit] Population
The Potchefstroom municipality, which encompasses several neighbouring settlements, has a population of 128,357, according to the 2007 community survey. Of these, 69.6% were African, 27.0% White, 3.0% Coloured and 0.4% Asian. [1]
[edit] Academic
Today Potchefstroom is known as the City of Expertise and is home to, inter alia, five tertiary institutions and 30 schools, as well as numerous research bureaus and training centres.
The North-West University The North-West University is a merged tertiary educational institution that was created on 1 January 2004, with campuses at Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vanderbijlpark[2]. The Potchefstroom Campus (formerly the Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys, founded in 1869) is the largest and the head office of the University is situated there. With its merged status, the North-West University became one of the bigger universities in South Africa with approximately 32, 000 students (full-time and distance education students) and is still growing.
Potchefstroom College of Education The Potchefstoom College of Education, originally the Normal College, was founded in 1919. Initially the College was housed in galvanised iron buildings on the same premises as the Potchefstroom High School for Boys, and it moved to its present location in 1923. The College of Education was incorporated with the University on 1 January 2004.
Technical College Potchefstroom The Technical College Potchefstroom came into existence in 1939 when the Union Education Department started "continuation classes". The annual increase in student numbers bears testimony to the important role played by this tertiary body.
Agricultural Centre The Agricultural Centre, previously known as the Experimental Farm (1902) and Agricultural College (1939), is currently the largest single agricultural service point on one terrain in Southern Africa. The centre houses the headquarters of the Highveld Region of the Department Agriculture, the Grain Crops Institute as well as the Agricultural College with its modern training facilities.
Potchefstroom Akademie Potchefstroom Akademie was founded in 1981 by managing director Tina Schöltz and offers tertiary education Somatology, Health and Skincare Therapy, Holistic Health Therapies as well as Interior Design and Decorating.
Potchefstroom High School for Girls
Potchefstroom Boys High School Established in 1874 although it has been on its current site since 1905.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium The school was founded in January 1907 as "Die Voorbereidende Skool" with HJJ van der Walt as its first principal. The preparation work which the schools did was in getting young men ready for theological studies as part of the Potchestroom University, the school later moved to its current location. On 25 January 1915, the school changed its name to Goeverement Skool. A year later it became the first school to start using Afrikaans as well as Dutch and English, making it the first Afrikaans High school north of the Vaal river. In 1918 it became solely a high school and changed its name to Potchefstroom Gimnasium.
Potchefstroom Cental Primary School The only English speaking primary school in town
Hoër Volkskool
On July 10, 1927, the foundation stone of the Volks High School was laid (Jenkins, 1971:114).
[edit] Sport
[edit] Facilities
Potchefstroom is known as the North-West Province's "Home of Sport". The provincial headquarters of 17 of the most important sports are situated in the city. The City Council places a high priority on the establishment, maintenance and upgrading of the sport facilities under its control, especially to meet the variety of sporting and recreational needs of its youthful community. The Mooi River trails as well as other trails add extra colour and variety to these facilities available to resident and tourist alike. Cricket is the most popular sport and Potchefstroom hosted a match from the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup including Australia. Potchefstroom has produced numerous famous sports people. Some include: Godfrey Khotso Mokoena, silver medal winner in long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Justine Robbeson and Ryan Diedericks.
[edit] Places of interest
NWU Botanical Garden The NWU Botanical Garden is situated adjacent to the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University. It covers an area of almost 3 hectares. Most of the plants in the Botanical Garden are indigenous with the exception of a few exotic plants which are of botanical or medicinal interest. A section of the Botanical Garden, around a man-made ridge, is managed as a natural field garden while the rest of the Botanical Garden is more intensively managed. A variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish have made the garden their home in recent years providing a whole new dimension to the Botanical Garden.
MooiRivier Mall A shopping mall opened early in 2008 with over 100 stores. It boasts food and entertainment facilities that overlook the Mooi River. The mall provides alternative shopping facilities for the surrounding towns such as Carletonville, Ventersdorp Parys and Fochville.
Lakeside Holiday Resort Situated on the banks of the Potchefstroom Dam in the Mooi River, offers chalets, a caravan park, a variety of facilities and entertainment such as water sports, angling, a swimming pool and a supertube.
Dome Bergland Nature Park The site of a meteorite impact.
Boskop Dam Nature Reserve Yachting takes place on the waters of this dam.
Potchefstroom Museum
National Monuments The city has many buildings and other structures that have been declared national monuments, such as: The Old Gunpowder House, Old Police Station Building, Kruger Kraal Opstal, Heimat Building, Magistrate's Office.
Oak Avenue The oak lane was planted in 1910, and was declared a national heritage site in 1976.
Despite Stellenbosch being known as the "City of Oaks", Potchefstroom actually has more of these trees.
Mosque Newly reformed mosque (2007).
Churches The country's oldest Reformed Churches and its oldest stone-built Hervormde Church are found in the town. St Mary's Anglican Church, built in 1891, is notable for its stained glass windows. The NG Moedergemeente building burnt down in July 2007 and is currently being restored.
The Green Belt 10 km running along side the Mooi River in the centre of the city, hosts the 18-hole country club, twice the venue for South African Open tournaments.nb,nb,m
OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
Buffelsvlei Wild Animal Park
City Hall The stately City Hall in Edwardian Classicist design was inaugurated on 10 March 1909 by the then Colonial Secretary, General Jan Smuts (Jenkins, 1971:104). Together with the City Hall of Krugersdorp it is the oldest existing City Hall north of the Vaal River in South Africa. The western façade is strictly symmetrical with the 26 m (85 ft)-high ornamental, domed tower as a central axis. The clockwork and bell with its Westminster chimes were manufactured in the Netherlands. The building cost 12,000 pounds at the time.
Trim Park The Trim Park is situated in the Green Belt area adjacent to the Mooi River.
[edit] Industrial
Potchefstroom is an important industrial growth point of North West Province. Potchindustria houses, inter alia, steel, food and chemical industries.
[edit] Entertainment
The Sanlam Auditorium of the North-West University serves as theatre for the city and neighboring towns. Student life contributes greatly to the entertainment program of the community.
Art Market A monthly activity which has become a familiar sight in the City Council gardens.
Business Centre The city's business centre comprises a variety of commercial firms, including shopping centres of large chain store groups, as well as office space for the numerous professional services.
The Bult The Bult is synonymous with the student community of Potchefstroom and offers a wide variety of restaurants and pubs as part of its business centre.
[edit] North Western Command
The headquarters of the NWC is situated in Potchefstroom and also accentuates the important role which the city plays with regard to the activities of the South African National Defence Force in North West Province.
[edit] Witrand Mental Institute
The Witrand Mental Institute in Potchefstroom was the second Government institution for psychiatric patients and was opened in 1923. The first one, Valkenberg was opened at Maitland in the Cape.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Statistics South Africa, Community Survey, 2007, Basic Results Municipalities (pdf-file) Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ http://www.nwu.ac.za
[edit] References
- The Story of Potchefstroom. Geoffrey Jenkins, AA Balkema, Cape Town. 2nd ed. 1971. 120 pages.
[edit] External links
- dieBult | Business Directory, Local Events and more...
- Squirch | Potchefstroom Business Directory
- www.potchefstroom.info
- Gateway to Potchefstroom
- Klerksdorper.com The Number One Internet Site for Klerksdorp
- The Official site for Aardklop the annual musical festival in Potchefstroom
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