Archive - Historical Material

The Jacaranda City (affectionately named after its famous trees) welcomes all delegates to the 6th Interlending and Document Supply International Conference in October 1999.

Although Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, a cultural hub and a centre of research and learning it still retains many of the attractive characteristics of a town: this is a friendly city with open streets, open spaces and openhearted people. Pretoria has a vibrant, multicultural buzz which comes from a harmonious blend of traditions, cultures, languages and architecture.

History

Pretoria was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Wessel Pretorius who named it after his father, Andries Pretorius, a Voortrekker leader. The Greater Pretoria is also known as Tswane by the Sotho language group.

The city has immense historical value. It has passed through the Boer Republic, British colonial and apartheid eras and now is a significant role-player in the history-in-making of the first democratic government. With the inauguration of President Mandela on 10 May 1994 in Pretoria, the old and the new came together in an historic event at the Union Buildings, the seat of former governments where the President now has his office.

General

Pretoria boasts a strategic location - within easy reach of the Johannesburg International Airport and a gateway to many favourite tourist destinations from the Natal Coast to the Kruger National Park.

The city is spread over 900 square kilometers. On Church Square the statue of the last president of the Transvaal Republic, Paul Kruger, watches over the original city centre with its cluster of historic buildings. To the east the State Theatre complex, Sammy Marks Square and the Reserve Bank form the hub of the newer, bustling downtown area. The majestic Union Buildings in their rich sandstone and clear Renaissance lines, classic amphitheatre and formal rose gardens on Meintjieskop is a famous landmark and offers some of the most beautiful views of the city. South of the centre the University of South Africa and the Voortrekker Monument dominate the skyline.

It enjoys calm sunny days (the sun shines for about nine hours a day 300 days a year) and warm evenings for up to eight months of the year with stunning sunsets and impressive highveld thunderstorms in summer and mild winters where temperatures average 6° C to 23° C maximum.

It is a city in tune with nature with lovely gardens, spreading over "koppies" (small hills) covered with indigenous trees and shrubs. Pretoria in October is magic when the 70 000 Jacaranda trees burst into bloom and the city is enveloped in a mauve haze as far as the eye can see, with the promise of summer around the corner. The National Botanical Gardens and the National Zoological Gardens with a host of indigenous and exotic birds and more than 3500 animal species in spacious surrounds are favourite relaxation spots and are definitely worth a visit. Hiking trails for the more energetic are within easy reach. The Blue Crane Restaurant in the Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary offers bird watching combines with pleasant outdoor eating and drinking.

Upmarket shopping centres and ethnic sidewalk vendors clamour for your attention. The Saturday farmers' markets as well as the regular weekend flea markets provide opportunity for leisurely browsing and people watching.

Entertainment and nightlife

The modern State Theatre complex is known for its top-class performances, be they classical, ballet, symphony concerts, theatre or opera. Numerous intimate theatres and supper clubs cater for cabaret and jazz.

South Africa is well known for its choral tradition and Pretoria is the home town of the Ad Libitum Choir, the University of Pretoria Choir, the Northern Gauteng Youth Choir and the Pretoria Children's Choir.

There are cinemas aplenty with the latest box-office hit releases as well as films for the discerning viewer. Shebeens (traditional township bars), sports bars and taverns provide additional options for fun after dark. The Carousel Casino is less than an hour's drive. It is also the starting point for the world famous Blue train and the Rovos Rail luxury steam train trips.

Sport

South Africans are keen supporters of their major sports teams. Pretoria is rugby territory. The Loftus Versfeld Stadium, home of the Blue Bulls, is just across the street from the University of Pretoria. The Centurion Stadium is the home ground for the Northern Titans cricket team.

Indoor sports clubs, trim parks, fitness centres, heated pools, tennis and golf courts combined with year round good weather provide ample opportunity for sports enthusiasts and fitness fanatics.

Culture

Pretoria as a cultural city boasts the largest number of museums countrywide, ranging from the sumptuous Victorian mansion of one of the first industrialists, Sammy Marks, to the live farmyard from the 1920s at the Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum, complete with traditional craft demonstrations, such as gooseplucking and thong dressing. The Voortrekker Monument commemorates the Great Trek by white pioneers into the hinterland while its Museum focuses on their lifestyle. The African Window Museum opened its doors in 1997. It covers the heritage and culture of all South Africans as well as magnificent archaeological and anthropological material. The nearby Transvaal Museum opposite the city hall is a natural history museum. Adjoining is the Geological Survey Museum, housing a fascinating display of various precious and semiprecious stones.

Grand old times still roll along in Melrose House. This former residence of the tycoon George Heyes is a stately mansion near the Burgers Park where the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed on 31 May 1902 ending the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). It is now a museum open to the public. Enjoy a leisurely cup of tea in the conservatory.

In stark contrast are the homes of Pres Paul Kruger in Church Street West and that of General Jan Smuts on his farm, Doornkloof, in Irene. Both examples of the sober lifestyle of famous people in pioneering surroundings.

Art galleries also abound. The Pretoria Art Museum has a valuable collection of South African art. The studio and sculpture garden of Coert Steynberg, the Van Wouw Museum as well as the Eduardo Villa Museum on the campus of the University of Pretoria give extensive coverage to the work of these famous artists.

Centre of learning and research

Pretoria can lay claim to being the educational hub of not only South Africa, but also of the African continent.

Travellers coming in from the airport have their first view of the city framed by the impressive buildings of the University of South Africa, one of the biggest and best distance education institutions in the world. The University of Pretoria with its 29 000 residential and 21 000 distance education students provides both traditional class room teaching as well as telematic teaching through its 11 faculties. Vista University, the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA), the Pretoria Technikon and various techical colleges and teacher training colleges add to the student population.

Pretoria is also the home of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Human Sciences Research Council and the Agricultural Research Council.

Libraries

Of particular interest to conference participants are Pretoria's excellent libraries. The University of Pretoria's Academic Information Service is internationally in the forefront with its customer centered service orientation. The Library Service of the University of South Africa (Unisa) not only boasts a good collection but is known for its solutions to the information needs of off campus students. Smaller, but no less important are the libraries of the Pretoria Technikon, Vista University and the Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa).

The State Library is the Pretoria campus of the National Library of South Africa (NLSA). The second campus is the South African Library in Cape Town. Between them, they hold the national bookstock of documents published in the country, both preserving them and making them accessible countrywide. The NLSA is the result of the amalgamation of these two libraries which is described in the National Library of South Africa Act, which was assented to in November 1998. The date of the amalgamation has yet to be announced.

The Pretoria Community Library is a model of ingenious information provision in a developing country. The stylish main library on Sammy Marks Square opposite the State Theatre complex is the hub of a service network throughout the suburbs, townships and squatter camps. Also in the centre of town is the State Library which forms part of the national library system.

Further afield

South Africa's first eco-museum, Tswaing, is situated 40 km northwest of Pretoria and comprises a huge meteorite crater with a brine lake.

The Hartebeestpoort, Rietvlei and Roodeplaat Dams are teeming with water sport enthusiasts over summer weekends and with picnickers throughout the year. Several game reserves are located within a short distance of Pretoria. These offer the opportunity to view buffalo, elephant, lion, rhino and leopard in their natural habitat. There are also many hunting venues within easy access of the city. Various endangered species are bred at the De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre.

Walk in the footsteps of colourful heroes, follow the tracks of wild animals, dance and gamble the night away or sip cocktails in breathtaking scenery. Whatever you fancy, Pretoria has it all.