Notes:
Potchefstroom is an academic city hosting the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (previously known as Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education), situated on the banks of the Mooirivier (Afrikaans for 'pretty (or beautiful) river') The town is roughly 120 km (75 mi) west-southwest of Johannesburg and 45 km (28 mi) east-northeast of Klerksdorp in the North West Province of South Africa. The town's municipality wants to rename Potchefstroom to Tlokwe, although many residents oppose the change.
Origins of the name Potchefstroom
There are various origins that are claimed for the origin of the name Potchefstroom. Firstly it is said to be: 'Potgieter' + 'Chef' + 'stroom'. Which attributes the name to the Voortrekker leader and town father Andries Potgieter, 'chef' an indication of leader of the emigrants and the 'stroom' referring to the Mooi River. Although Jenkins believes that this is the most widely recognized source of the name, it would be strange for the Voortrekker to refer to a leader as 'chef' or 'chief' as these are not words frequently used in Afrikaans at the day (Le Roux, 2008).
"Others however, attribute the name as having come from the word 'Potscherf', meaning broken pot, due to the cracks that appear in the soil of the Mooi River Valley during drought resembling a broken pot" (Jenkins, 1971:8).
M.L Fick thirdly suggests that Potchefstroom developed from the abbreviation of "Potgieterstroom" to "Potgerstroom" which in time became "Potchefstroom". However, this doesn't account for the use of "Potjestroom" which is found as inscription on many documents and photographs.
Name change
In 2006 the local municipality decided on a name change for the city, favouring 'Tlokwe' as the new name. The municipality changed its name to "Tlokwe City council", but the city's name remains "Potchefstroom". There is still a case hanging regarding the name change, which is primarily opposed by the local community organisation Aksie Potchefstroom / Action Potchefstroom.
History
The town, founded in 1838 by the Voortrekkers, is the second oldest settlement of people of European descent in the then Transvaal.The honour of oldest European settlement belongs to Klerksdorp, situated approximately 40 km (25 mi) to the West.
It served as the first capital of the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) (South African Republic in English). Also, for a short time until 1840, the towns of Potchefstroom and Winburg as well as their surrounding territories were joined in a political entity known as the Republic of Winburg-Potchefstroom. Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter was elected as chief commandant.
Union with Maritzburg
In October 1940, after a meeting between Potgieter, Andries Pretorius and G.R. van Rooyen it was decided that Potchefstroom would unite with "Pieter Mouriets Burg" (Pietermaritzburg).
On the 16 December 1880, the first shots of the First Boer War were fired when the Boers laid siege to the old fort. The siege ended amicably on 23 March 1881. The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Boer War to house Boer women, children and elderly men.
At the opening of the City hall in 1909, General Jan Smuts, the then Colonial Secretary was asked about the possibility of Potchefstroom becoming the capital of the Union. He replied that the city stood no chance, but said that it should aim at being South Africa's biggest educational centre (Jenkins, 1971:104). This has led to the strong educational inclination of this, the 'city of expertise'.
Since 1997 the town has hosted to the annual Aardklop Arts Festival, a (mostly) Afrikaans arts festival held in late September each year.
Potchefstroom is 'n stad in die Noordwes-provinsie van Suid-Afrika. Dit was die oudste dorp in die ou Transvaal-provinsie. Dit is in November 1838 deur Voortrekkerleier Hendrik Potgieter aan die oewers van die Mooirivier gestig. Die stad staan ook as die "Stad van Deskundigheid" bekend. Dit beslaan 2 573 km² en het 128 000 inwoners (munisipaliteit 2001). Dit is 'n handel- en nywerheidsentrum vir die omliggende land- en mynboustreek. Potchefstroom is 120 km Wes-Suidwes van Johannesburg.
Naamsverandering
Daar is tans 'n poging om deur die munisipale regering om die dorp se naam na Tlokwe te verander, maar baie inwoners het in opstand gekom teen die besluit - hierdie opstand word deur die organisasie Aksie Potchefstroom gelei. Die stadsraad staan wel as Tlokwe plaaslike munisipaliteit bekend.
Universiteit
Potchefstroom is 'n groot akademiese dorp. Die Teologiese Skool van die Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika, wat in 1869 op Burgersdorp gestig is, is in 1905 na Potchefstroom verskuif. In 1919 het "Het Potchefstroom Universiteitskollege voor Chriristelike Hooger Onderwijs" ontstaan uit die Literariese Departement van die Teologiese Skool. In 1951 is die PUK erken as ‘n selfstandige universiteit wat bekend sou staan as die Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys (PU vir CHO).
Die PU vir CHO het in 2004 met die University of the Northwest in Mafikeng saamgesmelt om die Noordwes-Universiteit te word en sou voortaan bekend staan as die Potchefstroomkampus van die Noordwes-Universiteit. Hierdie multikampus en multidiverse universiteit het tot stand gekom nadat die regering verreikende veranderings in tersiëre onderwys aangebring het en wetgewing deurgevoer het wat die aantal tersiêre inrigtings in die land verminder het. Dit het die einde van die Christelike inslag van die universiteit beteken.
Die Potchefstroomkampus het 33 000 studente.
Die universititeit met sy groot aantal studente speel 'n belangrike rol in die dorp en gee aan Potchefstroom sy universiteitsdorp-karakter.
JOOL Dit is 'n optog ten bate van liefdadigheid waar al die eerstejaars van die Potchefstroomkampus van die Noordwes-Universiteit, in hul koshuis verband, deur die strate van die dorp loop met vlotte wat hul gebou en versier het.
City/Town : Latitude: -26.719455091195307, Longitude: 27.091598510742188Matches 1 to 1 of 1
Last Name, Given Name(s)  |
Birth  |
Person ID | Tree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  van Bruggen, Anna | Friday 23 May 1941 | Potchefstroom, Noordwes, Suid-Afrika | I13246 | Veenkoloniale voorouders |
Matches 1 to 2 of 2
| Last Name, Given Name(s) |
Death |
Person ID | Tree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aissing, Lukas | Tuesday 08 March 1966 | Potchefstroom, Noordwes, Suid-Afrika | I319283 | Veenkoloniale voorouders |
| 2 | Naudé, Anna Susanna | February 1949 | Potchefstroom, Noordwes, Suid-Afrika | I562375 | Veenkoloniale voorouders |
Matches 1 to 1 of 1
| Last Name, Given Name(s) |
Burial |
Person ID | Tree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naudé, Anna Susanna | Potchefstroom, Noordwes, Suid-Afrika | I562375 | Veenkoloniale voorouders | |
Matches 1 to 1 of 1
| Family |
Marriage |
Family ID | Tree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kruger / Prieur du Plessis | 1842 | Potchefstroom, Noordwes, Suid-Afrika | F118928 | Veenkoloniale voorouders |
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