Potchefstroom

Potchefstroom, South Africa

Potchefstroom, town, North West province, South Africa, on the Mooi River, southwest of Johannesburg. It was founded in 1838 as the first capital of the Transvaal and remained the capital until Pretoria displaced it in 1855. British troops held the town in the First Boer War (1880–81) and the South African War (1899–1902). Gold mining has been important in the extended area since 1933. Known historically as a significant educational, ecclesiastical, and newspaper publishing centre, Potchefstroom is the seat of several secondary schools and of North-West University, established in 2004 by the merger of the historically white Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the historically black University of North-West. A large proportion of the residents are young adults. There are many recreational facilities, and a large military camp is nearby. Potchefstroom is administered by the Tlokwe local municipality. Pop. (2001) town, 43,714; mun., 128,348.