CITY: PRETORIA, TSHWANE
Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, but also the most densely populated and the fastest growing. Gauteng means ‘Place of Gold’ (gold has been intertwined with the province’s history ever since its discovery in the Johannesburg area in 1886). It is the financial and industrial capital of South Africa, the economic powerhouse of Africa and was founded in the heydays of one of the world’s biggest and richest gold rushes. Earning it the name “Egoli”, meaning ‘place of gold’.
The people of Gauteng have the highest per capita income level in the country. The most important economic sectors are financial and business services, logistics, communications, and mining. As the financial capital of Africa, more than 70 foreign banks have their head offices in the province. The province is home to 3 metropolitan municipalities, namely: Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
The City of Tshwane is a main hub for South Africa’s automotive industry, contributing to 40% of overall national production, and has competitive advantages in metal production and the defence industry.
The Province has the most important educational and health centres in the country. The City of Tshwane boasts the largest residential university in South Africa, the University of Pretoria (UP), and what is believed to be the largest correspondence university in the world, the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Most of South Africa’s research and development takes place in Gauteng, which is home to many of the country’s core biotechnology companies. Leading research institutes such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) are based here.
Gauteng is also home to the Cradle of Humankind, one of South Africa’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. The region of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and environs has one of the world’s richest concentrations of hominid fossils, evidence of human evolution over the past 3.5-million years.
The Gauteng Province firmly believes that given the type of facilities available and the opportunities it has, the province has the best capacity to host the event. As the city was fortunate enough to open and close the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Gauteng has the infrastructure, amenities and services capable of hosting a conference of international standard.
CULTURE
Tshwane is a cultural city with grand architecture, a plethora of museums – both historical and modern – monuments, grand sculptures, bustling markets and vibrant township scenes complemented by upmarket fine dining restaurants, street-side cafe’s and ultra-modern bustling city shopping centres.
COSMOPOLITAN CITY
Tshwane is a cosmopolitan city. Tshwane has the most foreign representative bodies in the world after Washington DC. As the seat of government, all South African Government Departments are in Pretoria. The Office of the State President is in the magnificent Union Buildings, – visited by many heads of state from around the world. Pretoria as the capital city is the diplomatic hub of South Africa with over 135 embassies and diplomatic missions such as the United Nations, World Bank and European Union.
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH HUB
Tshwane is an academic, science and research hub. With four universities the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, UNISA and Sefako Makgatho, no less than seven national science councils this centre of scientific research and learning boasts the highest level of education in the country.
AFRICAN CITY
Tshwane is an African city boasting two nature reserves with big game such as rhino, antelope, lion and giraffe close to the city centre and a third, on the city boundaries, boasting the Big 5. Green belts, wetlands and special natural park sanctuaries within the city also cater for birding enthusiasts. Dining options within these reserves abound to satisfy the tastes of the nature lover with a penchant for fine dining.