Pretoria and 20 Years of Freedom

South Africa celebrates 20 Years of Freedom in 2014, marking two decades since the first democratic elections took place on 27 April 1994. Pretoria has consistently played a pivotal role in the many achievements made in the past 20 years.

By: Charl Steenkamp

A Twenty Year Review was launched by the Presidency on 11 March 2014, reflecting on the progress made in the past 20 years. Here we will highlight some of these milestones, especially those where Pretoria has played a role.

1994

• The people of Pretoria took part in South Africa’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994.
• Nelson Mandela was inaugurated on 10 May 1994 at the Union Buildings as South Africa’s first democratic president.

1995

• Loftus Versfeld Rugby Stadium was one of the host stadiums in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
• The Motor Industry Development Programme was implemented by government. Pretoria currently hosts half of the light vehicle manufacturers located in the country (Volvo, Nissan, BMW, and Ford). Daimler, Tata, Mahindra and Volkswagen also have representation in the City of Tshwane.

 1998

• The military area, known as Voortrekkerhoogte, was renamed Thaba Tshwane. It was founded around 1905 by the British Army, and was first known as Roberts Heights after Lord Roberts.

1999

• The people of Pretoria took part in South Africa’s second democratic elections on 2 June 1999.
• The Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exhibits and collections at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria include hominid fossils from these sites, including the famous Mrs Ples (a nickname attributed to a fossil skull believed to represent a distant relative of all humankind).

2000

• On 27 April 2000, the new Coat of Arms of South Africa was introduced, which was designed by Iaan Bekker, a University of Pretoria alumni.
  

2003

• Supersport Park in Centurion, was one of the host stadiums of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup.

2004

• The people of Pretoria took part in South Africa’s third democratic elections on 14 April 2004
• The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was launched as a nationwide programme covering all spheres of government and state-owned enterprises. Apart from being South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria hosts most government departments.

2006

• Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A large collection of Mapungubwe artefacts can be seen at the Mapungubwe Collection of the University of Pretoria, including the Gold Rhino.

2007

• South Africa was selected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the first time. Pretoria plays a pivotal role in international relations, as it’s where the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is located. Pretoria has over 130 foreign missions, which are the second most in the world, after Washington, D.C. All five permanent members of the Security Council have had state visits to Pretoria in the past 20 years.
  
• Freedom Park opened in December 2007.

2009

• The people of Pretoria took part in South Africa’s fourth democratic elections on 22 April 2009.
  

2010

• On 9 December 2010, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) was launched. Their corporate office is located at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria.
• Loftus Versfeld Rugby Stadium was one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

2011

• The Gautrain route from Rosebank to Pretoria and Hatfield commenced operations on 2 August 2011.
• Reconciliation road, a road linking Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument was opened in 2011.

 2012

• Members of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Organisation announced that the SKA telescope would be split between Africa and Australia. Tricom Structures, a Pretoria-based company is manufacturing a 25-ton backup structure for MeerKAT.
• The South African Reserve Bank, located in Pretoria, issued new banknotes bearing the face of former President Nelson Mandela.
• South African won six medals at the London Olympics. Medals went to Cameron van der Burgh (gold) and Roeland Schoeman (bronze) whom are both born in Pretoria while Caster Semenya (silver) and Bridgitte Hartley (bronze) are both University of Pretoria alumni.

2013

• Pretoria grieved and honoured Nelson Mandela, who passed away on 5 December 2013. More than hundred heads of state came to Pretoria to pay their respects. His body lay in state for three days in Pretoria and was visited by more than 100 000 people at the Union Buildings. The Mandela Statue was unveiled on 16 December 2013.