Potchefstroom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Potchefstroom
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Clockwise from top: Town Hall (on Potgieter Street), Reformed Church, Dutch Reformed Church.
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| Motto(s):
City of Expertise
Motswe Wa Boitseanape Stad van Deskundigheid |
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 Potchefstroom
Location in North West (South African province)
Potchefstroom
Location in South Africa
Potchefstroom
Location in Africa
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| Country |  South Africa |
| Province |  North West |
| District | Southern |
| Municipality | JB Marks |
| Established | 1838 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 162.44 km2 (62.72 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,340 m (4,400 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 43,448 |
| • Density | 267.471/km2 (692.747/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • White | 70% |
| • Black African | 25.4% |
| • Coloured | 2.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 1.3% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 71.4% |
| • Tswana | 11.0% |
| • English | 7.6% |
| • Sotho | 3.9% |
| • Other | 6.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) |
2520
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| PO box |
2520
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| Area code | 018 |
| Website | [1] |
Potchefstroom (which people often call Potch) is a city in the North West Province of South Africa. It's known as an academic city because it has a big university. The city is located on the Mooirivier, which means "pretty river" in Afrikaans. It's about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west-southwest of Johannesburg.
Contents
What's in a Name?
There are a few ideas about how Potchefstroom got its name. One idea is that it comes from "Potgieter" (after Voortrekker leader Andries Potgieter), "Chef" (meaning leader), and "stroom" (meaning river). So, it could mean "Potgieter's leader's river."
Another idea suggests the name comes from "Potscherf," which means a piece of a broken pot. This might be because the soil in the Mooi River Valley can crack like a broken pot during dry times. Some also think it's a shorter version of "Potgieterstroom."
In 2006, the local government wanted to change the name to "Tlokwe." In 2007, the municipality's name officially changed to Tlokwe Municipality. However, the city itself still uses the name Potchefstroom. Later, in 2016, the Tlokwe Municipality joined with another area to form the JB Marks Local Municipality.
A Look Back in Time
Potchefstroom was founded in 1838 by the Voortrekker people. It was one of the first European settlements in the area known as the Transvaal. For a short time, Potchefstroom and another town called Winburg were part of a small republic.
In 1852, an important agreement called the Sand River Convention was signed. This agreement allowed the farmers living north of the Vaal River to govern themselves. This led to the creation of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR), or South African Republic. Potchefstroom was named the capital of this new republic in 1858. However, by 1860, the capital moved to Pretoria.
Later, during the First Boer War in 1880, the Boers surrounded a fort where British soldiers were staying. This lasted for 95 days. During the Second Boer War, the British set up camps in Potchefstroom for Afrikaner families, mostly women and children.
In 1909, a leader named Jan Smuts said that Potchefstroom should aim to be a major education center in South Africa. This idea helped the city become known as the "city of expertise," with many schools and universities.
People of Potchefstroom
The city of Potchefstroom and its nearby areas had a population of about 43,448 people in 2011. Most of the people living in the city are White (about 70%), followed by Black African (about 25%). The main language spoken is Afrikaans.
A famous athlete from Potchefstroom, Ken McArthur, won a gold medal in the marathon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. He was known for training by racing against a train!
Learning and Education
Potchefstroom is a hub for learning, with five universities and colleges, plus many other schools.
- The North-West University is a large university with campuses in different cities. The Potchefstroom Campus is the biggest and has the main office. It started as the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1869.
- The Potchefstroom College of Education, founded in 1919, trains teachers.
- The Technical College Potchefstroom started in 1939 and offers technical training.
- The Agricultural Centre is a huge farming facility. It's where the famous Potchefstroom Koekoek chicken was first developed!
- Potchefstroom Akademie, started in 1981, teaches things like health and skincare.
There are also many high schools and primary schools in the city, including:
- Potchefstroom High School for Girls (since 1905)
- Potchefstroom High School for Boys (since 1874)
- HTS Potchefstroom (since 1903)
- Potchefstroom Central Primary School
- Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom
- Laerskool President Pretorius
- Potchefstroom Gimnasium
Sports in Potchefstroom
Potchefstroom is known as the "Home of Sport" in the North West Province. The city works hard to keep its sports facilities in great shape for young people and visitors.
The city is about 1400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level. This altitude, along with clean air, makes it a good place for athletes to train. Many international teams and athletes come here to practice at the North-West University's High Performance Institute of Sport.
- Cricket: Senwes Park is a major cricket ground. Potchefstroom hosted matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The Australian cricket team even used Potchefstroom as their base when they won the World Cup in 2003!
- Rugby: Rugby is very popular here. Olën Park is the main rugby stadium, home to the Leopards team. It's also used for football matches.
- Athletics: The PUC McArthur Stadium is an athletics stadium named after Olympic gold medalist Ken McArthur. Famous athletes like Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (an Olympic silver medalist in long jump) have trained here.
- Football: During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish national football team (who won the World Cup that year!) chose Potchefstroom as their base camp. A new sports complex was built for them at the university.
Places to See
Potchefstroom has many interesting historical buildings and natural spots.
Historical Sites
Many buildings and places in Potchefstroom are protected as heritage sites because of their historical importance.
- Old Fort and Cemetery (around 1881): This fort was built by British soldiers and was surrounded by Boers for 95 days during a war. Soldiers and civilians who died are buried nearby.
- South African National Artillery Memorial: A special place to remember artillery soldiers who died in World War II.
- Goetz-Fleishack House (around 1857): This old house shows how wealthy people lived in the early days of the South African Republic. It's now a historic house museum.
- M. W. Pretorius House (around 1868): This house belonged to President M. W. Pretorius and is built in a traditional Cape style. It's also a museum now.
- Nederduitsch Hervormde Church (around 1859): This old church has been renovated many times. Its cornerstone was laid in 1859.
- Dutch Reformed Mother Church Potchefstroom (around 1895): President Paul Kruger laid the foundation stone for this church. It was used as a temporary hospital during the Anglo-Boer War. It was damaged by fire in 2007 but has been restored.
- Old Powder Magazine (around 1898): One of the oldest buildings, it was used to store gunpowder.
- Town Hall (around 1909): This beautiful building was opened in 1909. It's one of the oldest city halls north of the Vaal River. It has a tall domed tower with a clock and bell.
- Oak Avenue (around 1910): The city council decided to plant a long lane of oak trees in 1910. This beautiful lane stretches for about 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles).
- Carnegie Library (around 1914): This library was named after Andrew Carnegie, who helped fund libraries around the world.
- Heimat Building (around 1925): This was the first permanent building on the university campus and is now home to the university's Department of Culture.
- Main Building, University (around 1930): This building, with its seven arches, was dedicated in 1931 and now houses the Faculty of Law.
Other Interesting Places
- Boskop Dam Nature Reserve: A great place to see nature.
- O. P. M. Prozesky Bird Sanctuary: A special place for birdwatching.
- North-West University Botanical Garden: This garden has many local plants and is home to various animals, birds, and fish.
- MooiRivier Mall: A large shopping mall that opened in 2008, with over 100 stores, food, and entertainment.
City's Economy
Potchefstroom is an important center for industry, services, and farming in the North West province. Key industries include steel, food processing, and chemicals. The chicken industry is very important here, with many chicken farms and companies around the city.
Military Presence
The city is also important for the South African National Defence Force. It hosts the provincial command headquarters and often has military displays and parades.
