Stadiums: Loftus Versfeld

Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, with most of the foreign embassies located here. Although it is quite close to Johannesburg, it has a totally different feel. The wide avenues are lined with purple flowering jacaranda trees. Sculptures and monuments attest to the Afrikaner history and great care has been taken to preserve the fine architecture in the city center.

The Rivonia treason trial was held here in 1964 and the synagogue where the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and his colleagues were sentenced to life imprisonment is still preserved in Pretoria.

Pretoria's rich and colourful heritage is reflected in the city's myriad of museums and monuments and is punctuated by contemporary arts and craft markets, making the city alive with a unique blend of new and old.

The Science and Technology Museum offers a tactile experience of science at work. Church Square and the State Theatre often host international and national performances. There are also two nature reserves where visitors can view wildlife such as buffalo, antelope, cheetah, jackal, giraffe and sable.

Facts

Name: Tshwane/Pretoria
Province: Gauteng Province
Population: 2,2 million
Altitude: 1214m
Geography: Situated between rocky ridges in the north eastern part of the country. The city is in the transitional area between tropical savannah (Bushveld) and the Highveld plateau.
Climate: Dry winters with temperatures averaging 20 °C during the day, dropping to about 5 °C at night. Hot summers with occasional thunderstorms, daytime average temperatures 25 to 30 °C.
Key Economic Sectors: Services, Commerce, Industry
Professional Football Clubs: Mamelodi Sundowns, Supersport United (Premier) Pretoria United (1 ^st Division)

Football

Pretoria has long been a city synonymous with top professional football in South Africa and the breeding ground for many of the country's top players.

Arcadia were triple winners in 1974 but it is Mamelodi Sundowns who have been the real pride of the city. They broke the Professional Soccer League record, winning the league five times in a row since 1988. Sundowns were also runners up in the 2001 CAF Champions League.

• Loftus Versfeld Stadium
• Map of Pretoria
• Other Cities