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Mooirivier Mall |
A shopping mall opened early in 2008 with over 100 stores. It boasts food and entertainment facilities that overlook the Mooi River. The mall provides alternative shopping facilities for the surrounding towns such as Carletonville, Ventersdorp, Parys and Fochville. 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. Vredefort Dome The Vredefort center 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 dose to the Vredefort Dome. From this city/town various tours from rock enthusiasm to mampoer tasting and conducted. In 2005 the Vredefort Dome was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites for its geologic interest. 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 center. As a national monument the Oak Avenue which is 6,84km long, contributes to the picturesque atmosphere of Steve Biko Avenues in the Bult area. The trees, planted in 1910, cover an area from the Agricultural College to the lakeside Holiday Resort. Museums Museum and library complex. The Potchefstroom Museum comprises a Main museum (Sol Plaatjies Avenue), the Totius House Museum (cr. Molen and Esselen Street), the President Pretorius Museum (Thabo Mbeki Drive) and the Goutz/Fleischack Museum (cr. Sol Plaatjies Avenue and Nelson Mandela Drive). Visiting hours: Weekdays 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-1700 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 Stynberg. Other memorials on the terrain portray important events in South Africa history and 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 facade 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. 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 1500 people for a meeting. Enquiries and bookings: tel: (018) 299 5126 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 galvanized iron buildings on the same premises as the Potchefstroom High School for Boys, and it moved to its present location in 1923. Technical College The Technical College of 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. 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. Olien Park / Kenneth McArthur Oval Both these Western Transvaal sports headquarters were laid out in 1892. Olien Park, named after Charlie Olien, 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 policemen 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. 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 to 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. 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 bird's species attract birds 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. |