Pietersburg, South Africa

Polokwane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pietersburg

Nickname(s): City of stars

Motto: Naturally Progressive

Polokwane

Country

South Africa

Province

Limpopo

District

Capricorn

Municipality

Polokwane

Established

1886

Government

 • Executive Mayor

Freddy Greaver[1]

Area[2]

 • Total

106.84 km2 (41.25 sq mi)

Elevation

1,312 m (4,304 ft)

Population (2011)[2]

 • Total

130,028

 • Density

1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)

Racial makeup (2011)[2]

 • Black African

74.4%

 • Coloured

3.7%

 • Indian/Asian

3.1%

 • White

18.2%

 • Other

0.5%

First languages (2011)[2]

 • Northern Sotho

45.9%

 • Afrikaans

19.8%

 • English

10.3%

 • Venda

6.7%

 • Other

17.3%

Postal code (street)

0699

PO box

0700

Area code

015

Website

http://www.polokwane.org.za

Polokwane,[3][4] meaning "Place of Safety",[3][5] 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 official name,[4] Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. 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 name of the city as Polokwane, a name that was generally in use by the speakers of Northern Sotho. The city was the site of the ANC national conference which saw Jacob Zuma take over as head of the party.[6]

Demographics

In 1904 Pietersburg had a population of 3,276, of whom 1,620 (49.5%) were whites.[7] Pietersburg was a white-designated area during apartheid and so had an overwhelming white majority before 1990. After the dismantling of apartheid the city still retained a large white population. Neighbouring townships have a black majority.[8]

Apartheid was implemented by the NP Natunale party and was not agreed with by all white population. Before the NP apartheid did not exist.

The South African Census showed the population of Polokwane as 271,911 in 2001 and 503,000 in 2010.

Districts/suburbs/townships

Under the apartheid government certain areas were allocated to certain racial groups; these areas still have a majority of these racial groups present.

1. •Westernburg - Former Coloured township
   

2. •Seshego and Turfloop - black townships outside Polokwane
   

3. •Nirvana - Former Indian township
   

Former White suburbs in the city include:

1. •Bendor
   

2. •Flora-Park
   

3. •Fauna-Park
   

4. •Penina Park
   

5. •Hospital Park
   

6. •Ster Park
   

These suburbs no longer host exclusive racial groups and the local government has launched a project to encourage integration.[9]

Wiki