City of
Expertise
[ NORTH-WEST
UNIVERSITY
] [ PCE ] [ TECHNICAL COLLEGE ] [ AGRICULTURAL CENTRE ] [ CITY HALL ] [ MADIBA
BANQUETING HALLS ]
[ SOUTH
AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE ] [ ARMY
SUPPORT BASE ]
[ N12 TREASURE ROUTE NORTH
WEST PROVINCE ]
North West home of sport
[ SPORT
FACILITIES ] [ OLëN PARK /
KENNETH MCARTHUR OVAL ]
[ POTCHEFSTROOM COUNTRY CLUB
] [ TRIM PARK ]
Cultural heartbeat of the
North
West
[ MUSEUMS ] [ DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH ] [ MOSQUE ] [ ENTERTAINMENT ]
[ ART MARKET ] [ AARDKLOP ]
Business centre
[ TRANSPORT ] [ BUSINESS CENTRE ] [ THE BULT ] [ INDUSTRIAL
AREA ]
Nature
[ LAKESIDE
HOLIDAY RESORT ] [ OPM PROZESKY BIRD
SANCTUARY ]
[ VREDEFORT DOME ]
Transport
Potchefstroom, the
gateway to
North West Province, is only one hour's drive from Johannesburg and
other great markets of Gauteng. Excellent main access routes by road,
rail and air connect Potchefstroom with Namibia and the provinces North
Cape, Western Cape, Free State and Gauteng. Daily train and bus
services pass through Potchefstroom and route to main centers, thereby
enabling tourists to visit the city in comfort.
Museums
Museum and library complex. The
Potchefstroom Museum comprises a Main museum (Gouws Street), the Totius
House Museum (cr. Molen and Esselen Street), the President Pretorius
Museum (Van der Hoff Road) and the Goutz/Fleischack Museum (cr. Gouws
and Potgieter Street).
GO BACK TO TOP
Visiting hours:
Weekdays 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-17:00.
Saturdays 09:00-13:00 and
Sundays 14:30-16:30.
Admission free.
Dutch
Reformed Church
Oldest existing church building north
of the Vaal River, a declared national monument and well-known landmark
in Potchefstroom. At the front entrance is the bust of the rev. Dirk
van der Hoff (first minister of the congregation), by the sculptor
Coert Steynberg. Other memorials on the terrain portray important
events in South African history an the growth of the church.
City
Hall
The stately City Hall in Edwardian
Classicist design was inaugurated in 1909. Together with the City
Hall of Krugersdorp it is the oldest existing City Hall north of the
Vaal River in South Africa. The western façade is strictly
symmetrical with the 26m high ornamental, domed tower as a central
axis. The clockwork and bell with its Westminster chimes were
manufactured in the Netherlands.
GO BACK TO TOP
Madiba
Banqueting Halls
With its postmodern building style,
the banqueting halls are unique in North West Province and add
character to the city. Ideal for conferences and receptions. Can
accommodate 1 500 people for a meeting.
Enquiries and bookings: tel. (0148)
299 5126
Mosque
The Mosque is situated in the Central
Business District and was erected in 1925. The recent renovation of the
building has once again brought its distinctive charm to the fore.
GO BACK TO TOP
North-West
University
The university, one of the four
tertiary institutions of the city, was founded in 1869. From 1921 to
1933 it was known as the Potchefstroom University College (PUK) and was
awarded full university status in 1951. The beautiful campus boasts two
national monuments: the Main building (the first permanent building
inaugurated on 4 April 1931), and Heimat Hostel.
PCE
The Potchefstroom College of
Education,
originally the Normal College, was funded in 1919. Initially the
College was housed in galvanised iron buildings on the same premises as
the Potchefstroom High School for Boys, and it moved to its present
location in 1923.
GO BACK TO TOP
Technical
College
The Technical College Potchefstroom
came into existence in 1939 when the Union Education Department started
"continuation classes". The annual increase in student numbers bears
testimony to the important role played by this tertiary body.
Agricultural
Centre
The Agricultural Centre, previously
known as the Experimental Farm (1902) and Agricultural College (1939),
is currently the largest single agricultural service point on one
terrain in Southern Africa. The centre houses the headquarters of the
Highveld Region of the Department Agriculture, the Grain Crops
Institute as well as the Agricultural College with its modern training
facilities.
GO BACK TO TOP
Sport
Facilities
Potchefstroom is rightly known as the
North West Home of Sport. The provincial headquarters of 17 of the most
important sports are situated in the city. The City Council places a
high priority on the establishment, maintenance and upgrading of the
sport facilities under its control, especially to meet the variety of
sporting and recreational needs of its youthful community. The Mooi
River trails as well as other trails add extra colour and variety to
these facilities available to resident and tourist alike.
Olën Park / Kenneth
McArthur Oval
Both these Western Transvaal sports
headquarters were laid out in 1892. Olën Park, named after Charlie
Olën, former president of the West Province and offers the rugby
enthusiast matches up to international level. As from 1995 soccer
matches are also played at this venue.
The Oval was named after Kenneth
McArther, the Potchefstroom policeman who in 1912 was awarded a gold
medal for winning the marathon at the Olympic Games. The high standard
of illumination at the grounds makes the televising of large permit
meetings possible.
GO BACK TO TOP
Potchefstroom Country Club
The Potchefstroom Country Club with
its 18-hole golf course, forms part of the Green Belt. The golf course,
9 holes of which are played across the Mooi River, was the first grass
course in the South African interior and has played host twice to the
South African Open. Big tournaments are presented annually. Facilities
for tennis, bowls and squash are also available at the Country Club.
Trim
Park
The Trim Park is situated in the Green
Belt area adjacent to the Mooi River. This natural paradise through
which the Mooi River trail meanders, is a delightful recreational area
and has lately also developed as an ideal venue for shows and other
festivities.
GO BACK TO TOP
Lakeside
Holiday Resort
Situated on the banks of the
Potchefstroom Dam in the Mooi River. A popular holiday resort which
with its variety of facilities, including water sports, angling,
accommodation, swimming bath etc. presents a truly relaxed and holiday
atmosphere to suit all age groups.
Tel: (0148) 299 5170/3
OPM
Prozesky Bird Sanctuary
This sanctuary is situated south of
the city adjacent to a large section of the Mooi River. The 60ha
reserve is open to the public. Access to the shelters must however be
arranged beforehand. The nearly 200 birds species attract bird lovers
far and wide. A Mooi River Trail may be followed along the Mooi River
up to the Lakeside Holiday Resort. The trail runs through the Green
Belt area in the city.
GO BACK TO TOP
Entertainment
Apart from sports and recreational
activities , the city offers a rich variety of entertainment. The
Sanlam Auditorium of the PU for CHE serves as theatre for the city and
neighboring towns. Performances to a large extent meet the cultural
needs of the community. Local and other artists of high caliber perform
regularly in the well-equipped venues. Student life contributes greatly
to the entertainment program of the community.
Art
Market
A monthly activity which has become a
familiar sight in the City Council gardens. A colourful and gay
atmosphere is created by the exhibitions of a wide variety of home
industries. The market gives residents and tourists the opportunity to
make interesting purchases.
GO BACK TO TOP
Business
Centre
The city's business centre comprises a
variety of commercial firms, including shopping centers of large chain
store groups, as well as office space for the numerous professional
services. The Kerk Street semi-pedestrian mall adds a colourful
character to the business centre which makes every visit a highly
enjoyable experience.
The
Bult
The Bult is synonymous with the
student community of Potchefstroom and offers, inter alia, a wide
variety of restaurants and other eating places in its business centre.
As a national monument the Oak Avenue which is 6,84km long, contributes
to the picturesque atmosphere of Tom Street in the Bult area. The
trees, planted in 1910, cover an area from the Agricultural College to
the Lakeside Holiday Resort.
GO BACK TO TOP
Industrial
Area
Potchefstroom is an important
industrial growth point of North West Province. Potchindustria houses,
inter alia, steel, food and chemical industries which concentrate on
delivering locally, nationally an internationally. Increasing interest
and investment, even by foreign industrialists, reflect the vitality
and potential of this sector. The City Council's marketing program is
geared towards paying special attention to each new investor and
presenting the best package to suit his needs.
South
African Police Service
The city's first police office was
erected in 1937 and replaced the old police camp in Kruger Street,
where Potchefstroom High School for Girls now stands. Wespol Plain, the
new offices of the South African Police Service and headquarters of
North West Province, were occupied in 1991. The offices in Greyling
Street however still remain in use.
GO BACK TO TOP
Army
Support Base
The headquarters of the ASB is
situated in Potchefstroom and also accentuates the important role which
the city plays with regard to the activities of the South African
National
Defense Force in North West Province.
As one
of the army bases in the country ASB not only supplies employment to
many, but
also improves Potchefstroom's image with unique colour.
GO
BACK TO TOP
Aardklop
Aardklop is an annual South
African arts festival held in the city of Potchefstroom, North-West
province, South Africa. This cultural festival held in various venues
in and around Potchefstroom incorporates Afrikaans theatre, dance,
music, cabaret and visual arts. Open-air performances, craft markets,
pubs and coffee shops enhance the open areas in the "Bult" district of
Potchefstroom. This event draws in excess of 130000 visitors from all
areas of South Africa and neighboring states.
Website : www.aardklop.co.za
GO BACK TO TOP
N12 Treasure Route North West Province
The N12 Treasure Route North West
Province stretches from Carletonville through Potchefstroom to the KOSH
area (Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein, Hartbeesfontein )through
Wolmaransstad, Bloemhof and Christiana where it enters the Northern
Cape. The route makes easy access not only to towns and cities but also
to places of interest (example : Vredefort Dome, Highveld National
Park, Bloemhof Dam) to name but a few.
Website : www.n12treasureroute.com
GO BACK TO TOP
N12 Treasure Route
The N12 Treasure Route stretches from
North of Witbank to far South of Beauford West. The route makes easy
access not only to towns and cities but also
to places of interest (example : Vreedefort Dome, Highveld National
Park, Bloemhof Dam, Kimberley hole, Large Karoo, Small Karoo) to name
but a few.
GO BACK TO TOP
Vredefort Dome
The Vredefort crater is the largest
verified impact crater on Earth. This site referred to as the Vredefort
Dome is located in the Free State and North West Province of
South Africa. The Free State town of Vredefort is situated in the
crater. Potchefstroom in the North West province and Parys in the Free
State are situated close to the Vredefort Dome. From this city/town
various tours from rock enthusiasm to mampoer tasting are
conducted. In 2005 the Vredefort Dome was added to the list
of UNESCO World Heritage sites for its geologic interest.
GO BACK TO TOP
