Introduction
Pretoria, is the administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. It has a reputation as an academic city and centre of research, being home to the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Pretoria, the University of South Africa, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Human Sciences Research Council. It also hosts the National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards. Pretoria was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As the administrative capital of the country, Pretoria hosts the headquarters of all national government departments and agencies. The city is also a major global diplomatic hub; it is home to 134 foreign embassies and high commissions, representing the second-largest concentration of diplomatic missions in the world, surpassed only by Washington, D.C. Pretoria is the central part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality which was formed by the amalgamation of several former local authorities, including Bronkhorstspruit, Centurion, Cullinan, Hammanskraal and Soshanguve. Some have proposed changing the official name from Pretoria to Tshwane, which has caused some public controversy. Pretoria is named after the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, and South Africans sometimes call it the "Jacaranda City", because of the thousands of jacaranda trees planted along its streets and in its parks and gardens.
History & Origins
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. The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over Dingane and the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River in 1838. The elder Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which the United Kingdom acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal. It became the capital of the South African Republic on 1 May 1860. The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers' settlement movements of the Great Trek.
Geography & Climate
Pretoria is situated approximately 56 km (35 mi) north-northeast of Johannesburg in the northeast of South Africa, in a transitional belt between the plateau of the Highveld to the south and the lower-lying Bushveld to the north. It lies at an altitude of about 1,339 m (4,393 ft) above sea level, in a warm, sheltered, fertile valley, surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range.
Pretoria has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) with long hot, rainy summers, and short, dry and mild winters. The city experiences the typical winters of South Africa, with cold, clear nights and mild to moderately warm days. Although the average lows during winter are mild, it can get cold due to the clear skies, with night time low temperatures in recent years in the range of 2 to −5 °C (36 to 23 °F). The average annual temperature is 18.7 °C (65.7 °F). This is rather high, considering the city's relatively high altitude of about 1,339 metres (4,393 feet), and is due mainly to its sheltered valley position, which acts as a heat trap and cuts it off from cool southerly and south-easterly air masses for much of the year. Rain is chiefly concentrated in the summer months, with drought conditions prevailing over the winter months, when frosts may be sharp. Snowfall is an extremely rare event; snowflakes were spotted in 1959, 1968 and 2012 in the city, but the city has never experienced an accumulation in its history. During a nationwide heat wave in November 2011, Pretoria experienced temperatures that reached 39 °C (102 °F), unusual for that time of the year. Similar record-breaking extreme heat events also occurred in January 2013, when Pretoria experienced temperatures exceeding 37 °C (99 °F) on several days. The year 2014 was one of the wettest on record for the city. A total of 914 mm (36 in) fell up to the end of December, with 220 mm (9 in) recorded in this month alone. In 2015, Pretoria saw its worst drought since 1982; the month of November 2015 saw new records broken for high temperatures, with 43 °C (109 °F) recorded on 11 November after three weeks of temperatures between 35 °C (95 °F) and 43 °C (109 °F). Pretoria reached a new record high of 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) on 7 January 2016.
Demographics & Culture
Depending on the extent of the area understood to constitute "Pretoria", the population ranges from 700,000 to 2.95 million. The main languages spoken in Pretoria are Sepedi, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, Afrikaans, and English. The city of Pretoria has the largest white population in Africa. Since its founding, it has been a major Afrikaner population centre, and there are roughly 1 million Afrikaners living in or around the city.
Pretoria is home to an extensive portfolio of public art. A diverse and evolving city, Pretoria boasts a vibrant art scene and a variety of works that range from sculptures to murals to pieces by internationally and locally renowned artists. The Pretoria Art Museum is home to a vast collection of local artworks. After a bequest of 17th century Dutch artworks by Lady Michaelis in 1932 the art collection of Pretoria City Council expanded quickly to include South African works by Henk Pierneef, Pieter Wenning, Frans Oerder, Anton van Wouw and Irma Stern. And according to the museum: "As South African museums in Cape Town and Johannesburg already had good collections of 17th, 18th and 19th century European art, it was decided to focus on compiling a representative collection of South African art" making it somewhat unusual compared to its contemporaries. Pretoria houses several performing arts venues including: the South African State Theatre which houses the arts of Opera, musicals, plays and comedic performances. A 9-metre-tall (30 ft) statue of former president Nelson Mandela was unveiled in front of the Union Buildings on 16 December 2013. Since Nelson Mandela's inauguration as South Africa's first majority elected president the Union Buildings have come to represent the new 'Rainbow Nation'. Public art in Pretoria has flourished since the 2010 FIFA World Cup with many areas receiving new public artworks.
Economy & Government
As the capital of South Africa, Pretoria is the administrative and economic hub of the nation. The city houses government institutions, diplomatic missions, and key commercial enterprises that drive the national economy.
Landmarks & Attractions
Pretoria National Botanical Garden, a botanical garden containing a massive collection of native flora. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, the premier zoological gardens of South Africa. Church Square, the historical governmental centre of the South African Republic. Union Buildings, the executive branch of the South African government. Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the official residence of the President of South Africa. Marabastad, a historical shopping district for non-whites during Apartheid. Menlyn Maine, a green city. Menlyn Park, a shopping mall. Voortrekker Monument, a historical complex dedicated to the Great Trek. Hatfield Square, the main student relaxation district. Pretoria railway station, a historical landmark and departure point for metrorail and Gautrain trains. Freedom Park, a historical complex dedicated to the end of Apartheid and the fallen soldiers of South Africa after 1994. Pretoria Forts, historical bastions designed to protect the city against the British, including a museum on the Boer Wars. State Theatre, South Africa, the premier national performing arts complex. Government House, Pretoria.
Key Facts
- Pretoria is the capital of South Africa
- Population: approximately 742,000+
- Elevation: 1,332 meters (4370 feet) above sea level
- Area: 687.5 km²
- Founded: 1855 AD
- Located in the Southern Africa region
- Administrative capital of South Africa
Fun Facts
- Pretoria serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of South Africa
- Pretoria is an important city in the Southern Africa region
Quick Facts About Pretoria
- Country: South Africa
- Continent: Africa (Southern Africa)
- Country population: approximately 65.5 million
- Capital city status: Pretoria is the capital of South Africa, the seat of national government, and the location of foreign embassies, parliament, and the head of state's official residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of South Africa?
The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. Pretoria is the seat of national government, hosts most foreign embassies and consulates, and is typically where the head of state and parliament are located.
What continent is Pretoria in?
Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, is located in Africa, in the Southern Africa region. As South Africa's capital, Pretoria serves as the country's primary connection to the broader African political, economic, and cultural sphere.
Why is Pretoria the capital of South Africa?
Pretoria was chosen as the capital of South Africa for reasons that typically combine geography, history, and politics. Capital city selections often reflect a desire for centrality (being accessible from across the country), historical importance (being a longstanding seat of government or culture), or neutrality (being acceptable to multiple regions or ethnic groups within the country). The specific reasons for Pretoria's designation are detailed in the city's history above.
What is Pretoria known for?
As the capital of South Africa, Pretoria is best known for housing the country's central government institutions — parliament, presidential or royal residences, supreme court, and key ministries. It is also typically a major cultural and economic center within South Africa, hosting national museums, embassies, and signature monuments. The introduction and history sections above provide detailed coverage of the city's specific notable institutions and landmarks.
Related Pages
- South Africa Country Guide — full geography, climate, economy, and culture overview
- Flag of South Africa — meaning, history, and design of South Africa's national flag
