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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TSHWANE
Just 48 km from the Johannesburg International Airport lies the capital city of South Africa. The City of Tshwane is a metropolitan city in the Gauteng Province.
This metropolitan area was established on 5 December 2000 with the amalgamation of various local governments, and encompasses, among others, the following areas: Soshanguve, Centurion, Temba, Hammanskraal, Pienaarsrivier, Crocodile River, Winterveld, Akasia, Mabopane, Ga- Rankuwa and Pretoria.
Tshwane is named after Chief Tshwane, the son of Chief Mushi, who settled in the Pretoria area
before the arrival of the Voortrekkers. His descendants still reside in Pretoria and the surrounding areas.
Another version is that the name Tshwane is the authentic African name for Pretoria and was used by the early inhabitants of the area. It is synonymous with the slogan, "We are the same or we are one because we live together"
The City of Tshwane can be regarded as a cultural melting pot with numerous tourist attractions. It is also the Diplomatic capital of South Africa and hosts around 210 foreign representative bodies.
Tshwane is home to some of the finest museums, historic houses and monuments ranging from the Voortrekker Monument and Museum, the Miriammen Hindu Temple, the Melrose House where the peace of Vereeniging , terminating the Anglo Boer war, as signed, and the cenotaph in Atteridgeville for the members of the Native Corps who died during World War II.
History in a flash !
#200 000 years ago : First Stone Age people present in Tshwane. #100 000 years ago : First Middle Stone Age communities settle here. #30 000 years ago : First Late Stone Age communities settle here. # AD1200 : Evidence of settlement of first black communities #1600 : Tswana-speaking and Ndebele-speaking people settle on the Magaliesberg #1841 : First white settles along the Apies River #1855 : Pretoria established as religious centre in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR). #1860 Pretoria recognized as the seat of the government of the ZAR. #1877 Theophilus Shepstone annexes the ZAR on behalf of Great Britain #1881 The ZAR liberated through successfully fighting the Transvaal War of Independence. #1888 Marabastad established (original portion since demolished) #1893 First railway opened to Johannesburg #1895 Railway to Maputo opened #1899 Outbreak of Anglo-Boer South African War #1902 Peace of Vereeniging #1908 The University of Pretoria and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute established #1910 Union of South Africa with Pretoria as the Administrative Capital #1913 The Union Buildings completed # 1931 Pretoria proclaimed a city #1934 ISCOR opened #1935 City Hall opened #1939 Atteridgeville established #1951 Group Areas Act institutionalizes apartheid #1953 Mamelodi established #1955 Pretoria centenary celebrations #1956 Women's march to the Union Buildings #1960 Sharpeville Massacre #1961 South Africa becomes a Republic #1985 Mamelodi massacre #1990 City Council opens all facilities to all races #1994 President Mandela inaugurated as President of South Africa at the Union Buildings #1995 First democratic local elections #1999 President Thabo Mbeki inaugurated at the Union Buildings #2000 City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established
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