Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Woodstock

Name:

Woodstock (formerly known as Papendorp) is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located between the docks of Table Bay and the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) east of the city centre of Cape Town. Woodstock is served by Woodstock and Esplanade railway stations, and has the postal code 7925 for street addresses and 7915 for post office box deliveries.


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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Pyramid (H 7)

Name: Pyramid

2.6 Km Railway Station Pyramid South
5.0 Km Railway Station Bon Accord
5.2 Km Service Station Bon Accord Motors
5.2 Km Service Station Grootvlei Garage
5.5 Km Railway Station Vasfontein

https://sites.google.com/site/saplacenames/

Putsonderwater

Name: Putsonderwater

Photo: http://www.suid-afrikaners.co.za/


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Pudimoe (C 10)

Name: Pudimoe

Alternative Name:
Pudimoe

Name Type:
Native

Area / State:
Cape Province


Coordinates & Location Type


Area Type:
Spot feature

Location Type:
Railroad Station

Latitude:
-27.38333

Longitude:
24.71667

Latitude (DMS):
27° 22' 60 S

Longitude (DMS):
24° 43' 0 E



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Prince Alfred Hamlet (C 15)

Name: Prince Alfred Hamlet


Through the efforts of Johannes Cornelius Goosen, a local farmer, a town named after Queen Victoria's second son developed here. Prince Alfred's Hamlet is the gateway to the Gydo Pass, famous for its scenic views. It is also on the route to the Koue Bokkeveld, Cederberg and Kagga Kamma. It offers an alternative route to Citrusdal.

Prince Alfred's Hamlet

Province: Western Cape
Region: Breede River Valley

Description:
Prince Alfred's Hamlet is situated 10 km north of Ceres. The village was founded in 1861 and named after the second son of Queen Victoria, who had visited South Africa the year before. Mainly deciduous fruit is farmed here. Famous for its scenic views, Prince Alfred's Hamlet is the gateway to the Gydo Pass, an alternative route to Citrusdal. Gydo Pass goes through the Skurweberg to the farming area of the Koue Bokkeveld. The Pass affords wonderful views of the Ceres basin.



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Cederberg: http://cederbergnames.blogspot.co.za/

Prince Albert Road (C 14)

Name: Prince Albert Road


Prince Albert, Western Cape, South Africa, a peaceful village at the foot of the Swartberg Pass



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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Albert_Road,_Western_Cape

Prieska (C 12)

Name: Prieska

Source: http://www.places.co.za/html/prieska.html

Prieska is situated on the south bank of the Orange River at the foot of the Doringberg and it was originally named Prieschap, a Khoisan word meaning "place of the lost she-goat". It is renowned for its semi-precious stones. The Schumann Rock Collection, including semiprecious stones and Khoisan stone implements, can be viewed at the municipal offices.

The area between Prieska and Vioolsdrif is often called the "Rock Garden Route" – where the rare halfmens and succulents of the Lithops family can be found - and the Ria Huysamen Aloe Garden outside town contains a large array of succulents.

Attractions in and nearby Prieska include:
Die Bos Nature Reserve with indigenous trees, shrubs and abundant birdlife, picnic spots, angling and suspended bridges across the Prieska River.
Fort on top of Prieska Koppie, built with tiger’s eye by the British during the Anglo-Boer War
The Memorial Garden in town which contains the graves of British soldiers killed during the Anglo-Boer War.
Prieska Museum
Wonderdraai where a horseshoe-shaped island is formed by the flow of the Orange River and makes it seem as if the river turns to flow uphill.


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Pretoria-Noord (G 7)

Name: Pretoria-Noord

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Pretoria (G 8)

Name: Pretoria

History
First inhabitants

The Southern Transvaal Ndebele occupied the river valley, which was to become the location of the city of Pretoria, by around 1600. During the difaqane in Natal, another band of refugees arrived in this area under the leadership of Mzilikazi. However, they were forced to abandon their villages in their flight from a regiment of Zulu raiders in 1832.

The first “Boer” homestead in the Pretoria area was probably the home of J.G.S. Bronkhorst, who settled in the Fountains Valley in 1840. More Boer families put down roots around the nearby Elandspoort settlement. In 1854, two years after the Sand River Convention conferred formal independence on the territory north of the Vaal River, the residents of Elandspoort had the village proclaimed the ‘kerkplaas' for central Transvaal. This made it the focal point for nagmaals, baptisms and weddings.


The Founding of Pretoria

Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius. The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River. Andries Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which Britain acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal. Pretoria, at it’s founding year, consisted of about 80 houses and 300 residents.

Pretoria became the capital of the South African Republic (ZAR) on 1 May 1860. The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers' settlement movements of the Great Trek.


Development of Pretoria as we know it today

Commandant-General Marthinus Wessel Pretorius had bought a large amount of land in the area, which was taken over by the government as they foresaw the development of a large centre. The town proper began to take shape in 1856 as a result of Andries du Toit, a presidential advisor, exchanging of one of his Basutho ponies for the entire area known, today, as Arcadia. He spent the next two years surveying his property with pegs and chains. Stephanus Meintjies developed the area and was honoured by having a nearby hillock named Meinjieskop. This resulted in Pretoria extending from Potgieter Street in the west to Prinsloo Street in the east and from Boom Street in the North to Scheiding Street in the South.

Not long after its establishment it became known as the ‘city of roses' because its climate encouraged the growth of rambler roses, which covered gardens and hedges all around the city. In 1888 J.D. Cilliers, a resident ad avid gardener, imported Jacaranda trees from Rio de Janeiro to plant in his Myrtle Grove garden. These trees flourished and as a result the city is now aptly known as the ‘Jacaranda City', with about 50 000 Jacarandas lining its streets.

The British annexed the Transvaal in April 1877, which resulted in a steady flow of immigrants and migrants. During the Transvaal War of Independence the British withdrew and Paul Kruger took over.

The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange Free State were united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to become the Union of South Africa. Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town the legislative capital. Between 1860 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal, superseding Potchefstroom in that role.

On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved official city status. When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital.


Post Apartheid

After the creation of new municipal structures across South Africa in 2000, the name Tshwane was adopted for the Metropolitan Municipality that includes Pretoria and surrounding towns.

Pretoria previously had a rather sinister image as "the capital of Apartheid South Africa". However, Pretoria's political reputation was changed with the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the country's first black President at the Union Buildings in the same city.

In 1994 Peter Holmes Maluleka was elected as transitional mayor of Pretoria, until the first democratic election held later that year, making him the first black mayor of this capital of South Africa. Maluleka later became the chairman of the Greater Pretoria Metropolitan City Council (later Tshwane Metro Council), then was elected Speaker of the Tshwane Metro Council and in 2004 was chosen to be a member of the South African Parliament for the Soshanguve constituency.


Significant Landmarks

Church Square has always been the hub of Pretoria, although it was initially called Market Square. This was where the first church, a mud-walled building, was built. It burnt down in 1882 and was replaced by a much grander structure. Open markets were regularly held in the Square and Albert Broderick, an Englishman christened Albertus Broodryk, by his Afrikaans friends and customers established himself as shopkeeper. He also ran the community's first bar, the ‘Hole-in-the-Wall'.

When Mr. Sammy Marks, a well-known Jewish industrialist and close friend of President Paul Kruger, was allowed to build the town's first synagogue he expressed his pleasure by commissioning the sculptor Anton van Wouw to produce a statue of the president. A plinth was erected in Church Square to receive the bronze figure that had been cast in Rome. Unfortunately the South African War broke out and the statue was held up in the then Lorenzo Marques. This resulted in the statue only being erected in 1854. after several changes of site. Church Square was redesigned as a tramway in 1910, much to the disappointment of many of Pretoria's residents who had tried to convince the civic authorities to create a gracious area of fountains, gardens and Continental-style paving in order to showcase Pretoria as a city.

During the rule of the old dispensation Pretoria was the Administrative capital of South Africa. The modern city has many features that retain a position of importance in, especially, the white history of the country. These include the Union Buildings, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, which still houses government establishments; the old Raadsaal (council chamber) of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek on Church Square and the house where President Paul Kruger lived until his exile in 1900.

Outside the city towers the Voortrekker Monument and the two massive forts, Klapperkop and Schanskop, built by the Boers to protect their capital against the British. Here you can also find the large and imposing buildings of the University of South Africa (UNISA).



Sources: Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretoria]; SA History [http://www.sahistory.org.za]
http://www.pretoria.co.za/city-info/history.html



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President (G 9)

Name: President

India Railway Station (795m)
Germiston Railway Station (849m)
Driehoek Railway Station (1km)
Germiston West Railway Station (1km)
Refinery Railway Station (1km)
Germiston South Railway Station (2km)
Hillview Railway Station (2km)
Germiston Lake Railway Station (2km)
Geldenhuis Railway Station (3km)
Kutalo Railway Station (3km)

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Poupan (D 12)

Name: Poupan

Poupan - Railway Station, located in Poupan, Northern Cape


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Potgietersrus (H 6)

Name: Potgietersrus

Source: Wikipedia

Mokopane or Potgietersrus[1] (officially renamed from Potgietersrus to Mokopane in 2003), is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town was established by the Voortrekkers and named Potgietersrus after the Voortrekker leader Piet Potgieter. The name was changed to Mokopane in 2003. It is home to the Northern Ndebele speaking tribes, English, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, and XiTsonga speakers. Five kingdoms in the vicinity of the town are Kekana (Moshate), Langa (Mapela), Gegana (Mshade), Lebelo (Garasvlei) and Langa (Bakenburg). The town was supposed to be called Mngombane as the original name of the King was Mngombane but not Mokopane. There is an interest from the Northern Ndebele (SeNdrebele in the language itself) locals to revive their language, many want to read and write their language. The SeNdrebele language is spoken by over half of the community members in Moshate and Mosesetjane Village

Two hours from Gauteng, the town acts as a getaway destination and as a stop-over for travelers en route to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park. The area is typical bushveld with many acacia trees and aloes, which are at their best in June and July.

The Mokopane area is one of South Africa's richest agricultural areas producing wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize, peanuts and citrus. The Zebediela Citrus Estate, 55 km to the southeast, is one of the largest citrus farms in the southern hemisphere. The area is rich in minerals with the mining of platinum, diamonds and granite as chief mineral resources.

Prehistory and history
The historic and archaeologically significant Makapansgat Caves are situated 15 km north of the town. Recovery of Homo habilis habitation has been made at these caves.[2] Remains of Australopithecus africanus have also been found at the caves.[3]

The Arend Dieperink Museum portrays the history of the town, from the ape-man at Makapansgat, bushman drawings and early activities in the area up to the Anglo Boer War and recent times.


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Potfontein (D 12)

Name: Potfontein

Place: De Aar

Potfontein
Type: Hunting Lodge /Self Catering Location: Potfontein Farm
Tel:+ 27 (0)53 631 0092
e-mail: bo-karoodr@intekom.co.za
Description: Farm holidays and hunting



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Potchefstroom (E 9)

Name: Potchefstroom

Source: http://www.potchefstroom.co.za/tourism/tourism_heritage.html

Museums

Main Museum
(Gouws street)


The Library-museum complex was opened in 1982. The museum comprises three art halls, a cultural history hall, offices, a reference library and a shop. It is the biggest rural museum in the Transvaal and incorporates three house museums.

Totius House Museum
(cnr. Molen- en Esselen street)


The Totius Museum is a typical example of a town house built during the Edwardian period. When the Theological School of the Reformed Church had to be moved from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom, a ground plan almost identical to the plan of the rector's home in Burgersdorp, was used in Potchefstroom. The house was completed in 1905 and was occupied by prof. Cachet until prof. D.J. du Toit ( totius) succeeded him ass principal af the Theological School in 1911.

Besides being a academic, Totius was also well-known Afrikaans Bible tranlator, poet and cultural leader. The entire content of the house originated from the Du Toit family. Admission to theis house museum is free and guided tours are offered.


President Pretorius Museum
(Van der Hoff avenue)


The President Pretorius Museum was the resident of Martinus Wessel Pretorius (1819 - 1901)., first president of the South African Republic and founder of Pretoria. He built this old Cape-style dwelling with its coach-house, stable and smithy in 1868.

The homestead with its tranquil farmyard recalls an urban Boer culture, which has long since dissappeared.

In 1973 the town council of Potchefstroom purchased the property. After restoration the complex was declared a national monument. Admission to this house museum is free and guided tours are offered.


Goetz / Fleischack Museum
(cnr. Gouws- en Potgieter street)


The Goetz / Fleischack Museum was one of the first townhouses erected around the New Market Square (Nieuwe Marktplein) ca. 1860. This house is a Karoo-style dwelling with shutters, ceiling and inner doors made of yellow-wood and peach-stone-floors in the pantry and kitchen. The walled-in complex includes a stable and a coach-shed. The dwelling originally belonged to A.M. Goetz, magistate during the First War of Independance (1880 -1881). After 1902 his daugther and her husband, A.R. Fleischack, founder of one of the oldest existing firms of attorneys in Potchefstroom, occupied the house. The house was declared a national monument in 1984 and was opened as a museum in 1985. Admission to this house museum is free and guided tours are offered.



Nasional Monuments


British Fort and Cementary (1880/81)
(R29 Klerksdorp)

Dutch Reformed Church (1859-1866)
(Church street)


The first congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church (Hervormende Kerk) was founded in 1842 and the firsst church was situated on the north-eastern corner of the church square. The second (present) church, the oldest existing church in the Transvaal, was consecrated in 1866.

Raw hide thongs were used to determine the measurements of the church. At the outset pews and lighting were non-existent and church-goers had to supply their own seats and lanterns. A corrugated iron roof replaced the original thatched roof in 1893. A wooden floor and ceiling were installed and a steeple was erected.

The building was strengthened in 1952 and a bronze statue of Rev. Dirk van der Hoff (first minister of the congregation) was erected at the main entrance. The sculptur was Coert Steynberg.

The building was declared a national monument in 1965. In 1912, 70 years after the foundiing of the first congregation, the original bell-tower was fitted with a bell manufactured in the Netherlands.

Ou Kruithuis (1883)
(Wolmarands Street)

Administration Building (1906)
(Agricultural College)

Selborn Hall (1909)
(Agricultural College)

Eikelaan (1910)
(Agricultural College to Dam, via Kock, Kruger, Tom and (Van Riebeeck Street)

MW Pretorius House and Buildings (1868)
(Van der Hoff avenue)

Dutch Reformed Church:
Teological School (1905)
Rectors residence (1905)
Preparatory School (1907)
Hostel building (1905)
(Molen street)

Officer's residence, British Cantonment (1902)
(Witrand Care- and Rehabilitation center)

Voortrekkerfort (1842)
(Elandsfontein Farm, Fochville district)

Main Building (1931)
PU for CHE

Heimat Hall (1927)
Pu for CHE

Totius House
(Kruger Street)


The Totius Museum is a typical example of a town house built during the Edwardian period. When the Theological School of the Reformed Church had to be moved from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom, a ground plan almost identical to the plan of the rector's home in Burgersdorp, was used in Potchefstroom. The house was completed in 1905 and was occupied by prof. Cachet until prof. D.J. du Toit ( totius) succeeded him ass principal af the Theological School in 1911.

Besides being a academic, Totius was also well-known Afrikaans Bible tranlator, poet and cultural leader. The entire content of the house originated from the Du Toit family. Admission to theis house museum is free and guided tours are offered.


WD Pretorius House and Buildings (1853)
(cnr. Church and Jeugd street)

Landdrost- Post- en Telegraph Office(1896)
(Greyling street)

St Mary's Anglican Church (1891)
(Auto lane)


The corner-stone of the first St. Mary's Anglican Church Building was laid by M.W. Pretoriusin 1867. In 1891 the present church building was erected. The church has beautiful stained-glass windows. Part of the carpet used in Westminster Abbey during the coranation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, was presented to the church because it is the oldest Anglican church building in the Transvaal. The carpet hangs as a mural in the church. In its centenary year in 1991, the church was declared a national monument.

Police Office (1937)
(Greyling Street)

Old Post Office Building (1910)
(Greyling Street)

Lombard Street 74 (1905)

Lombard Street 76 (1905)

Stadshuis (1909)
(Church Street)

Carnegie library (1914)
(Church Street)


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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Postmasburg (C 11)

Name: Postmasburg

Proclaimed a town on 6 June 1892 and named after the Rev J Postma, a Reformed Church founding member whose congregation sought a centre of worship. The town is complemented by a dam surrounded by lush, green vegetation and sparkling fountains.

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Port Shepstone (K 15)

Name: Port Shepstone

Source: http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/port-shepstone.html

Port Shepstone - KwaZulu Natal South Africa
Port Shepstone is the largest town on the tropical KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in South Africa. It was founded in 1867 when marble deposits were discovered on both river banks near the mouth of the Mzimkulu River. The Port Shepstone harbour was immediately built at the opening of the river mouth for marine trade. The first coaster entered the harbour on the 8 May 1880 and inaugurated regular trade between Durban and Port Shepstone. The main exports for many years after that were marble slabs, sugar and lime.


The development of Port Shepstone was boosted by the arrival of 200 Norwegian settlers who were brought out to farm the area. On their arrival some of the settlers immediately noticed the potential for seafaring trade and devoted their time and energy into developing the harbour and its facilities. By 1893 Port Shepstone was functioning as a full fiscal harbour. However, when the railway from Durban reached Port Shepstone, the harbour was doomed. It fell into disuse and eventually the river silted up again making it impossible to use. Port Shepstone is today the administrative, commercial, distribution and transport center of the South Coast. On the outskirts of the town is a charming church which is the cultural and social focus of the Norwegian settler's descendants. Port Shepstone is a perfect stop for tourists wanting to experience some of the beautiful KwaZulu Natal Coast.



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Porterville

Name: Porterville

Famous as the home of the rare Disa Uniflora, Porterville is the only place in South Africa where these extraordinary flowers bloom, the rarest being the sulphur yellow Disa.


Visit Porterville



Who to contact

Contact Person: Nathalie Wagenstroom

Tel: +27 22 9313732
Fax : +27 22 9313732
info@portervilletourism.co.za

Address: Cnr of Voortrekker & Mark street
Porterville
6810



A 140 km drive north from Cape Town lands you in Porterville,a picturesque town on the slopes of the beautiful Olifants River Mountains. Established in 1863 after its founder Frederick John Owen subdivided his farm Pomona into plots, the town was named after a popular Attorney General of the Cape, William Porter.

Its main attraction, Waterval (Waterfall) Holiday Farm is located at the foot of the Olifants River Mountains, 5 Kilometers from Porterville. The naturally beautiful holiday farm offers visitors 22 Waterfalls, Hiking Trails, Mountain Bike Routes, Horse Rides, Picnic & / Camping Facilities, Barbeque Facilities and beautiful natural swimming pools.

Climatic conditions vary from dry, hot summers with powerful cross winds, making it the ideal location for paragliding enthusiasts, to severe winters, with snow on the mountain peaks and storms rolling in from the Atlantic coast in the west.

Dramatic rock formations, fauna & flora in the Groot Winterhoek Nature Reserve (en route to the Dasklip Pass) on the outskirts of Porterville, offer hiking trails to places called "DIE TRONK" & "DIE HEL" and features one of the largest, natural rock pools in South Africa. This is in sharp contrast to the gently undulating plains of wheat below and the abundance of waterfalls.


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Port Elizabeth (G 16)

Name: Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth (Xhosa: Ebhayi; colloquial The Bay[4] or Afrikaans: Die Baai) is one of the largest cities in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, 770 km (478 mi) east of Cape Town. The city, often shortened to PE and nicknamed "The Friendly City" or "The Windy City", stretches for 16 km along Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. It is also referred to as Africa's Watersport Capital.

Port Elizabeth was founded as a town in 1820 to house British settlers as a way of strengthening the border region between the Cape Colony and the Xhosa. It now forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality which has a population of over 1.3 million.


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Port Dumford (M 11)

Name: Port Duford

port Durnford - just up the beach from Mutunzini.

The shortest route by road is about 15km. At a guess, I would think at least 5to7 km along the beach.


Radiometric date for the Port Dumford peat and development of...
researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/retrieve/1450/oschadleus_1_1996.pdf


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Port Alfred (H 15)

Name: Port Alfred

Port Alfred is a small town with a population of under 21 000[citation needed] in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the eastern seaboard of the country at the mouth of the Kowie River, almost exactly half-way between the larger cities of Port Elizabeth and East London and 30 km West of Cannon Rocks.

One of its most distinctive features is a marina with a number of luxurious houses facing on to the canals. Associated with the marina is a small boat harbour, providing mooring for a variety of vessels from luxury yachts and other pleasure craft, to sporting and commercial deep-sea fishing vessels. The city enjoys a mild climate and award winning beaches, Kelly's beach has Blue Flag beach status, meaning it is one of the top beaches in South Africa. It is growing rapidly due to a high number of retirees and holiday makers building houses there.[citation needed]

Port Alfred is home to Southern Africa's largest air school, 43 Air School[citation needed] In addition, Port Alfred is home to Stenden South Africa, a subsidiary campus of Stenden University in the Netherlands. This campus attracts large numbers of international students to South Africa every year. The famous little village of Bathurst is fifteen km outside Port Alfred and is also becoming a very popular place to live. The area is green, picturesque and is home to South Africa's oldest inn, the Pig and Wistle.

Port Alfred has many activities for visitors including fishing, Scuba diving, canoeing, water skiing and tubing. Other sporting activities include golf (Port Alfred boasts one of the seven "royal" courses in the country), canoeing, horse trails and surfing, with Port Alfred being regarded by many as one of the best-kept surfing secrets in the country. The town is one of the last few places along the ever increasing coastline. It is unspoilt by overpopulation and commercialism, naturally beautiful and a relaxing place to be.[citation needed]

Port Alfred is home to the Kowie Striders fun run. The event is held on the 26th December annually and is enjoyed by holiday makers from far and wide. Both the 5 km and 8 km routes are well supported and all entrants get a souvenir Kowie Striders glass. The event is characterised by the announcer who welcomes finishers to the line with the catch phrase, "And the crowd goes wild at the Kowie".


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Politsi (J 6)

Name: Politsi

Johannesburg to Politsi:
Take the R 21 out of JHB towards Pretoria.
Proceed along this road and take the Pietersburg / Polokwane turn and proceed to Polokwane.
The distance to Polokwane from JHB is about 360 KM. Just before the town of Polokwane there is a sign post to the left. This road (R71) will take you towards Tzaneen and Politsi.
Follow this road to Tzaneen in an Easterly direction and take the R528.
Drive along this road for about 140 KM . You will come to a T Junction.
Turn left towards Politsi and Duiwelskloof onto the R36. Proceed along this road for about 6 km.
Turn left at the Politsi sign. Travel along this road for 1.5 KM.
Northern Timbers is on your left hand side.





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Point (M 14)

Name: Point

No story and record of the Durban railway and it's locomotives would be complete if the Bluff Railway was ignored. Four years before the building of the Durban - Point railway, a line just 100 yards short of one mile had been constructed and was in operation on the Bluff side of Durban harbour. There was little glamour in this compared to the fanfare and ceremony experienced across the bay in 1860, and today nothing remains of this venture, which had such an important effect on the viability of the port.


The picture, above left, shows a view taken from the Bluff and showing the wooden railway running along the fringe of the bush. The map of the railway, above right, was drawn by PC Sutherland in 1860. Click the pictures to view enlargements. Images courtesy Terry Hutson.

To understand the reasons for the building of this little railway, it is necessary to examine some of the background. The commencement of Durban, as a settlement for whites from the Cape and Europe had its beginnings in 1824, when a party of traders under the leadership of Lieut. Francis G Farewell, RN, with about twenty other adventurers, was given permission by the Governor of the Cape Colony to establish a station at Natal "for the advancement of. trade and civilisation". Prior to this the bay at Port Natal, or Durban as it was to become, had experienced few European visitors since Vasco da Gama's reported visit here in 1497 with his Portuguese. The exceptions were those unfortunate souls who were shipwrecked in the vicinity during the next three and a quarter centuries, and forced to remain in the shelter of the bay of Natal and await rescue or build new ships to make good their escape.

Source: http://www.fad.co.za/Resources/memoirs/hutson.htm



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Plumtree (F 9)

Name: Plumtree


Plumtree, Zimbabwe is a town in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe, close to the border to Botswana. It is the local administrative centre. The railway from Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) to Francistown (Botswana) crosses the border near Plumtree.

The Plumtree School is located here. Plumtree has a casino.



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Plumstead (A 16)

Name: Plumstead

Plumstead is a suburb in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, situated on the western margin of the Cape Flats, within the municipality of the City of Cape Town

[edit] History
Plumstead was first mentioned when, in 1762, a large portion of the land beyond Wynberg and the Constantia Valley was granted to the free burghers Hendrick Jergens and Johan Barrens, who were Dutch settlers. They called the land 'Rust' (Rest) and 'Werk' (Work). Twenty years later the land was granted to Hendrick Bouman Brigeraad. After the decline of the Dutch East India Company, the British occupied the Cape. An Englishman, Henry Batt, arrived in 1807 and bought 'Rust and Werk' and renamed it Plumstead after a district of London. Henry Batt farmed the area for twenty six years, and died in 1833. The farm Plumstead was sub-divided and bought by Messrs. Higgs, Loubscher and Southey. Lately more famous for having Tom Hudson reside there.


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Platrand (H 11)

Name: Platrand

The battle of the Platrand was the only serious Boer attack on the British lines during the siege of Ladysmith. The Platrand is a two and a half mile long ridge that dominated the south side of Ladysmith. It had been occupied by the British from the start of the siege in November 1899 and was seen by many the key to the defences of Ladysmith. Its lose would certainly have made Lieutenant-General Sir George White’s task much harder.

The British recognised the importance of the Platrand and had fortified the hills at each end. At Caesar’s Camp, on the eastern end of the ridge, they had built walls seven feet high. There they had 400 men from the Manchester Regiment, HMS Powerful and the Natal Naval Volunteers, and one 12 pounder gun. Wagon Hill, at the west end of the ridge, was not so strongly fortified, but work was in hand on two gun emplacements. The garrison of Wagon Hill was 600 strong (three companies of the 1st King’s Royal Rifle Corp and the Imperial Light Horse, as well as a detachment from the Royal Engineers). The Natal Naval Volunteers moved a 3 pounder gun onto Wagon Hill the day before the Boer attack, and two naval guns were being moved onto the hill when the attack began. The British commander on the Platrand, Colonel Ian Hamilton, had around 1,000 men to defend the two and a half mile long position.

The Boers intended to attack him with twice that number. 1,000 Transvaal men under Schalk Burger were to attack Caesar’s Camp. De Villiers with 400 Free Staters were to attack Wagon Point. Finally 600 men from Vryheid and Winburg and a unit of Germans were to attack the middle of the ridge, between the two hills. However, not everyone in the Boer camp was convinced that the attack was worthwhile. Many men who were meant to have taken part in the third attack decided not to take part.

The attack went in at 2.30am on 6 January. Under cover of darkness the fighting was chaotic. Hamilton was woken by the noise. Finding a strong Boer attack underway, he used a newly installed telephone to call for reinforcements. Amongst other troops, White sent field artillery that played a crucial part in the daylight fighting.

At daybreak the Boer attack had failed to reach the summit of the ridge, but the Boers held a line along the entire southern side of the hill, and threatened to outflank the British position. Boer guns on neighbouring hills now joined in, and the British position looked vulnerable. However, the field guns sent by White now arrived, and helped stabilize the position.

The fighting went on from early morning till noon without a break. After a short break the Boer attack was resumed. By now British reinforcements had arrived on the hill. The Boers failed to make supporting attacks elsewhere around Ladysmith, allowing White to move troops to the Platrand. The Devonshire Regiment made a particularly significant contribution, clearing a pocket of Boers from the southern side of the ridge with a bayonet charge, in the process loosing a third of their strength. Finally, as darkness fell at the end of the day the remaining Boers retreated down the hill.

British losses were high. 168 men were killed, out of a total of 417 casualties. Five Victoria Crosses were won (two posthumous). Boer losses were probably just has high. Officially they were reported at 64 dead and 119 wounded, but the Rifle Brigade counted 99 Boer dead on their part of the hill. Amongst the Boer dead was De Villiers, shot dead in a close encounter with Hamilton. The failure of the attack on the Platrand demoralised the Boers. It was their last attempt to capture Ladysmith.

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (5 February 2007), Battle of the Platrand, 6 January 1900, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_platrand.html



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Plaston (K 8)

Name: Plaston


Mpumalanga, White River Plaston

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Pinetown (L13)

Name: Pinetown

Pinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet (305 to 395 m). It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It was named after the governor of Natal, Sir Benjamin Pine. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women and children.

Pinetown is now part of the larger eThekwini Municipality and, for voting purposes, falls within the IEC electoral Ward 18. The area from Cowies Hill in the east along Old Main Road/M1 to Westmead ( industral area ) in the west is commonly referred to as the Pinetown area, although Pinetown strictly extends from Caversham Glen to Manors. The structures of the original town can be found at the corner of Old Main/Stapleton roads.

Pinetown Cricket Club, established in 1873, is believed to be the oldest in KwaZulu-Natal and among the oldest still in existence in South Africa. The club, originally located in central Pinetown at the current Civic Centre location, has now moved to Lahee Park. Under the chairmanship of then Pinetown mayor, Vernon Hall, with facilities at their peak, Lahee Park hosted ten first class games between 1974 and 1979. Former internationals Norman Crookes (twice selected for the Springbok squad) and Tertius Bosch represented the club. Current (2010) Dolphins players Khaya Zondo and Cameron Delport call the club home as do KZN "B" cricketers Bruce Kruger and Kyle Buckthorp.

The city has several schools: Pinetown Boys' High School, Pinetown Girls' High School, Benjamin Pine Primary School (R-7), Sarnia Primary School, Highway Christian Abademy, John Wesley School, Pinetown Junior & Senior Primary School, Browns School, St Benedict College, Lyndhurst Primary, New Germany Primary and Ashley Primary School. The only Afrikaans-medium school in the area is Gelofte Skool, meaning 'promise school'.

The shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo is very strong in Pinetown particularly in the Motala Heights, Motala Farm, Mpola and New eMaus settlements.

Pinetown is known as a 'motor town', because of many motor dealerships found along Old Main Road. The city is serviced by a few shopping centres, Pine Crest/Pine Walk both in Kings road, Knowles ( Spar ) centre & St John's ( Checkers ) centre .For the DIY enthusiasts there are plenty DIY shops dotted along Old Main road. Pinetown is serviced by a government hospital ( St Mary's ) in Mariannhill, a private hospital (Crompton) and a private medical centre ( Medicross).


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Pinelands (A 16)

Name: Pinelands

Source: Wikipedia
The "garden city" suburb of Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa and is known for its large thatched houses. The suburb is primarily residential and is often praised for its peacefulness and abundance of trees. Pinelands is one of the few areas in Cape Town in which sale of alcohol is prohibited and is a popular place for senior citizens to retire to. While there are several retirement homes in the suburb, younger people are increasingly moving in.

The main road is called Forest Drive and the suburb contains two small shopping centres, namely Howard Centre (named after Ebenezer Howard who led the garden city movement) and Central Square. Dutch Reformed, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches are located near to Central Square, while Baptist, Church of England in South Africa and Catholic churches are located elsewhere in the suburb. Pinelands is served by two Metrorail railway stations: Pinelands station on the western edge of the suburb and Mutual station on the northern edge. The suburb is bisected from the north east to the south west by the Elsieskraal River, which has flowed through a large concrete drainage canal since the 1960s.

The postcodes for Pinelands are 7405 for street addresses and 7430 for post office boxes. The telephone exchange codes for Pinelands are predominantly 531 and 532 (within the 021 dialling code for Cape Town).

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Pilot (G 10)

Name: Pilot

Kathlehong

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Pilane (E 7)

Name:Pilane

Pilane is a village in Kgatleng District of Botswana. It is located 10 km south-west of the district capital, Mochudi. The population was 1,178 in 2001 census.[1]

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Piketberg (B 15)

Name: Piketberg

Source: http://www.piketberg.com/

The main objective of Piketberg.com is to put Piketberg on the map as a tourist destination as well to promote our local businesses who have so much to offer in the way of service, products and just good country hospitality.

Piketberg is about an hour and fifteen minutes drive on the N7 from Cape Town and an hours drive from the West Coast. It stands alone in the middle of undulating fields of wheat, green vineyards, partly fallow land and flowering yellow canola.

The mountain range is unique as it stands as an island with Piketberg as its main town on its eastern slopes, the village of Aurora on the west and Redelinghuys to the north. If one is looking for a quiet lifestyle then this is the place to explore.

The perfect way to view the whole town and surrounding areas is to take a trip up the Versveld pass to the top of the mountain where you will drive through acres comprising of apple, pear, peach and orange trees.

On the way up you will have the scent of wild rosemary and will see many yellow Waboom and pink Nerifolia Proteas. Drive further on and take a turn at Langeberg road and head west. When you see a pinetree almost in front of the car, stop and look south. On a clear day Table Mountain is in the distance!

You will not want to leave this beautiful area. Spend a few days exploring and stay at one of the guesthouses advertised here and be refreshed in spirit!



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Piet Retief (J 10)

Name:Piet Retief

The Person:

Pieter Mauritz Retief (usually referred to as Piet Retief), (12 November 1780 – 6 February 1838) was a South African Boer leader. Settling in 1814 in the frontier region of the Cape Colony, he assumed command of punitive expeditions against competing Zulu forces. He also acted as spokesperson for the frontier farmers.

He wrote the Voortrekkers' declaration at their departure from the colony, and became a leading figure during their Great Trek. He proposed Natal as the final destination of their migration and selected a location for its future capital, later named Pietermaritzburg. Following the massacre of Retief and his delegation by Zulu king Dingane, the short-lived Boer republic Natalia suffered from ineffective government and succumbed to British annexation.

Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Great Trek
3 Death
4 Legacy
5 Popular culture
6 See also
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links

[edit] Early life
Retief was born to Jacobus and Debora Retief in the Wagenmakersvallei, Cape Colony, today the town of Wellington, South Africa. His family were Boers of French Huguenot ancestry: his great-grandfather was the 1689 Huguenot refugee François Retif, from Mer, Loir-et-Cher near Blois. He was the progenitor of the name in South Africa.[1] Retief grew up on the ancestral vineyard Welvanpas, where he worked until the age of 27.

After moving to the vicinity of Grahamstown, Retief, like other Boers, acquired wealth through livestock, but suffered repeated losses from Xhosa raids in the period. These prompted the 6th Cape Frontier War. (Retief had a history of financial trouble. On more than one occasion, he lost money and other possessions, mainly through gambling and land speculation. He is reported to have gone bankrupt at least twice, while at the colony and on the frontier.)[2] Such losses impelled many frontier farmers to become Voortrekkers (literally, "those who move forward"ra) and to migrate to new lands in the north.

Retief wrote their manifesto, dated 22 January 1837, setting out their long-held grievances against the British government. They believed it had offered them no protection against raids by the native blacks, no redress, and by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 freed their slaves. The compensation offered to owners hardly amounted to a quarter of the slaves' market value. Retief's manifesto was published in the Grahamstown Journal on 2 February and De Zuid-Afrikaan on 17 February, just as the emigrant Boers started to leave their homesteads.


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Pietersburg (H 5)

Name:Pietersburg


Source Wikipedia

Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",[2][4] is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name,[3] Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population of the municipality exceeds 500,000 (2001). Polokwane was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

History
In the 1840s, Voortrekkers under the leadership of Andries Potgieter established Zoutpansbergdorp, a town 100 km to the north west. This settlement had to be abandoned because of clashes with the local tribes. They founded a new town in 1886 and named it Pietersburg in honour of Voortrekker leader Petrus Jacobus Joubert. The British built a concentration camp at Pietersburg during the Boer War to house almost 4,000 Boer women and children. The town officially became a city on April 23, 1992; on February 25, 2005, the government declared the official English name of the city to be the Northern Sotho one, Polokwane. The city was the site of the ANC national conference which saw Jacob Zuma take over as head of the party.[5


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Pieters (J 12)

Name: Pieters

The British artillery was a powerful force in the field, underused by commanders with little training in the use of modern guns in battle. Pakenham cites Pieters as being the battle at which a British commander, surprisingly Buller, developed a modern form of battlefield tactics: heavy artillery bombardments co-ordinated to permit the infantry to advance under their protection. It was the only occasion that Buller showed any real generalship and the short inspiration quickly died.

http://www.britishbattles.com/great-boer-war/siege-ladysmith.htm

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Pietermarizburg (K 13)

Name: Pietermarizburg

Source: Wikipedia
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city of the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was founded in 1838. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district authority. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in English and Zulu alike, and often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products. It is home to many schools and tertiary education institutions, including a campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It had a population of 228,549 in 1991;[1] the estimated current population in Msunduzi Local Municipality is between 500,000 and 600,000 (of which 25% to 30% are identified as Indians or Whites).

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Pienaarsrivier (H 6)

Name: Pienaarsrivier

Location of Pienaarsrivier, Transvaal, South Africa (Latitude: 25° 34' 17 S, Longitude: 28° 20' 51 E)


Source: http://www.everysingleplace.com/features/index/6779983?fcid=308&page=2
153 Farms within 25 miles of Pienaarsrivier Nedersetting

Bala
Baviaanspoort
Biesjeskuil
Blaauwboschkuil
Boekenhoutkloof
BoekenhoutskloofBoekenhoutskloofBoekenhoutskloofdriftBoschkloofBothasvleyBoveneind GroenfonteinBoynespoortBuffelsdoornsBuffelsdrifBuffelsdriftBuffelsdriftBultfonteinBultfonteinConwayDe KuilDe LangesdamDe OnderstepoortDe PuttenDe TweedespruitDe WagendriftDe WitskraalDerdepoortDoornfonteinDoornkraalDoornkuilDoornpoortDownbernEersteregtElandskraalEnkeldoornEnkeldoornspoortFairfieldGraspanGroenfonteinGroenfonteinGrootvleiGruispanHaakdoornbultHaakdoornfonteinHaakdoornfonteinHaakdoornkuilHaakdornboomHamanskraalHartbeestfonteinHartebeestfonteinHartebeestspruitHoningnestkransInderminneIrrigasieKaallaagteKaallaagteKalkfonteinKalkheuvelKameeldriftKameeldriftKameelfonteinKameelrivierKleinklipkopiesKlipdriftKlipdriftKlipdriftKlipfonteinKlipfonteinKlipgatKlippanKlipplaatdriftKlipplaatdriftKliprandKloppersbosKoedoespoortKrokodilspruitKromdraaiKromdraaiKruisfonteinKruisfonteinLa RochelleLangkuilLangkuilLeeuwdraaiLeeuwdriftLeeuwfonteinLeeuwfonteinLeeuwkloofLeeuwkuilLusthofMantsoleMerinovlakteMiddelkopjeMurrayhillNaauwpoortOnderstepoortPaardefonteinPalmietgatPienaarsrivierPrins Anna

RenbaanRhenosterdriftRhenosterfonteinRhenostervaleiRietfonteinRietgatRondavel of SchoongezichtRondefonteinRoodeplaatRooibankRooikopRooiwalRuimteRust der WinterRust der WinterSpringbokvlakteSpringfonteinSterkwaterSynbrandskraalTambootie PanThe WedgeTogoTurflaagteTweefonteinTyroneUitspanUitspanning aan PienaarsrivierbrugUitvalUitvlugtVaalboschVaalboschbultVaalwaterkransValschfonteinVarkfonteinVastfonteinVerbrickVlaklaagteVlaklaagteVygeboschlaagteWallmannsthalWatervalWelgedachtWelgegundWelgevondenWelgevondenWolfhuiskraalZaagkuildriftZaagkuilfonteinZandfonteinZandkop Zyn LaagteZeekoegatZoetdoornlaagteZoutpan


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Phuzumoya (L 9)

Name: Phuzumoya

Phuzumoya is a town in eastern Swaziland on the MR8 road, located close to the junction of the Usutu and Lusutfu Rivers,


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Phomolong (F 9)

Name: Phomolong

Phomolong township emerged from the forcefully removed old location near Hennenman ... Then the name Phomolong came up, to related to present situation. ...

Welcome to Matjhabeng, pulsing heart of the Free State Goldfields. Situated on top of the gold bearing reefs of the Witwatersrand, Matjhabeng Municipality incorporates the city of Welkom and the towns of Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Hennenman, Allanridge and Ventersburg, with a combined population of more than 400†000 people.

Matjhabeng Municipality came into existence in year 05 December 2000, after 1994 South Africa’s first democratic elections, and incorporated these previously independent municipalities. In addition to these municipalities, former townships such as Meloding, Nyakallong, Kutlwanong, Thabong, Bronville, Harmon, Phomolong and Meloding have been included. Under the administration and protection of Matjhabeng Municipality, significant and continuing advances are being made in improving the infrastructure and living standards of all residents of the area. The majority of the population are employed in the mining sector, which is the economic lifeblood of the region.

The area is rich in South African history, with the first documented settlement of the area in the 1850’s. The area continued to develop as a largely agricultural region, abundant in wildlife.





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Phoenix (M 13)

Name: Phoenix

Phoenix, suburb of: Durban, region: KwaZulu-Natal, country: South Africa

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Philippolis Road (E 12)

Name:Philippolis Road


A quaint museum in the main road tells the story of the history of Philippolis. It is also the only museum in the country licensed to sell liquor.



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Phefeni (F 9)

Name: Phefeni

Phefeni is a railroad station in Gauteng, South Africa, Africa.
Phefeni forms are large portion of Orlando West.
Kaizer's house is also on Phefeni. Phefeni belongs to the municipality


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Friday, September 3, 2010

Phalaborwa

Name: Phalaborwa

Phalaborwa is
located in the Limpopo Province of Southern Africa
and is known as
"The Central Gate to the Kruger National Park" which makes this the perfect travel destination!


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Weblinks: http://www.phalaborwa.org.za/

Petrus Steyn (F 11)

Name: Petrus Steyn

original name: Petrus Steyn
geographical location: Lindley, Free State, South Africa, Africa
geographical coordinates: 27° 39' 0" South, 28° 8' 0" East


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Petrusburg (D 11)

Name: Petrusburg

Source: http://www.places.co.za/html/petrusburg.html
Petrusburg, a rich agricultural centre, is situated 80km west of Bloemfontein on the R48.

Petrusburg was named after Petrus Albertus Venter whose estate provided the money to buy the farm Diepfontein, on which the town was laid out in 1891 as a church and commercial centre for an extensive farming area.

Mixed farming is practised in the 3000 square km which was excised from the Fauresmith district in 1863. The main activity is sheep farming. The main crops are maize and potatoes.

Modest quantities of wheat are harvested in the rare season when enough rain falls in winter and early spring.

There are numerous salt pans in the district.



Activities
Emmaus
The centre point of South Africa- 20 km from the town.

Poplar Grove Battle
Where in Christiaan de Wet tried unsuccessfully to prevent British advancement into Bloemfontein.

Paardeberg Anglo-Boer War Monument
23 km Outside of the town.

Historic Battlefields
The Battle of Poplar River, wherein Christiaan de Wet tried unsuccessfully to prevent British advancement into Bloemfontein, is one of many battles that were fought in the area.

Rondavels
Built with beer bottles next to the country lodge.

Two Block houses
At the entrance of the town, it is the Van Riebeeckfeespark (1652 - 1952)

Two Monuments
At the entrance of the town, a tribute to the citizens past and present.


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Petronella (H 7)

Name: Petronella

From Pretoria to Pienaarsrivier.


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Pessene (L 8)

Name: Pessene

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201007200864.html

Pessene — Residents of the administrative post of Pessene, in Moamba district, Maputo province, complained on Monday to President Armando Guebuza of rustling and shortage of water.

These complaints were presented during a rally Guebuza addressed as part of his "open and inclusive presidency" to the Maputo province.

Pessene is characterized by poor soil, which renders agriculture unsustainable, but it is good for livestock farming. Currently there are 3,700 head of cattle and 9,500 goats in Pessene. However, farmers have been facing the problem of stock theft, and some of the criminals come from outside the administrative post.

Another associated problem is that even when the victims manage to catch the rustlers, it takes a long walk to reach the nearest police station and during this period, the criminals often manage to escape.

One somewhat desperate suggestion was to replace oxen by donkeys, since nobody in Mozambique eats donkeys, and there is thus no risk that they will be stolen.

Shortage of water is another very serious problem and, in the recent past, Pessene relied on supplies by water tankers sent from Maputo. There has been some improvement in this matter, but the residents are asking for more water sources.

Besides rustling and shortage of water, Pessene residents also asked Guebuza for the expansion of the electricity grid, and improvement of access roads, and of the transport system in general, because people in that area depend almost exclusively on the train to and from Maputo for transport.

In response, Guebuza acknowledged the importance of the concerns presented during the rally, but he also pointed out that despite all these difficulties, problems are being gradually solved, and there have been achievements.

"We have done a lot, but we still have a long way to go. But our small achievements, so far, are encouraging us and give us the strength to proceed', he said.

Relevant Links
Southern Africa
Mozambique
Guebuza, whose speech was mainly on the importance of preserving the environment and fighting against poverty, said that the Pessene of today is different from what it was in the past. Much had changed, "and in the future many more things will change and the agents of this change are the residents themselves", he stressed.

As for the problems posed during the rally, Guebuza told the participants that there will be solutions, because the fight against poverty is the government's priority, and decentralization, that gave origin to the creation of the local Consultative Councils, that play an important role in the development agenda, is one way the government has adopted to fight against poverty.

This was the first time a Mozambican head of state had ever visited Pessene. But Guebuza said he knew the place well from his childhood, when he used to visit uncles living there.


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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Perdekop (H 11)

Name: Perdekop

Source: Wikipedia

Perdekop, (Afrikaans for horse hill), is a small town situated on top of a 1,889m peak in the Mpumalanga province, in South Africa. The town was established during an equine sickness epidemic when farmers found that when they brought their horses to the top of this hill they were protected from the sickness. During the Second Boer War the British operated a lookout balloon here to monitor Boer activities.


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Julia Msibi - she came from Perdekop.


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Train