Pietersburg is the original name of Polokwane. It was taken from the name of a popular Voortrekker leader, Piet (also known as Petrus) Jacobus Joubert. However, Piet was not the only one who discovered this land. It was the Voortrekkers lead by Andreis Potgeiter who had to look for a new settlement after they clashed with local tribes about 100 kilometers from Polokwane. In short, Polokwane was not their original choice, but a town called Zoutpansberdorp.

The reason why the Voortrekkers’s intense desire to stick around the area was the gold rush in the 1880s. This is why many historians say that Polokwane was a city founded by man’s desire to find gold. The land was owned by Volksraad who was a Zuid Afrikaanse.

During the famous Boer War, Polokwane was used as a concentration camp for women and children where approximately 4,000 moved to Polokwane for safety.

On April 23, 1992, Polokwane became a city and in 2002, the name change was finalized. The meaning or Polokwane is “Place of Safety” but today it is recognized more for being a place of progress and growth.

Polokwane’s Growth

The growth of this capital city is more than what was expected. In just 6 years, 5,00 homes were built making Polokwane one of the most dense cities in the province. According to the local government 10% of the province’s population live in Polokwane and while this ay not appear to be a significant figure, it is when you consider that most of the land of large province of Limpopo is rural. The challenge of the local government then is basic services like water and how to adjust supplies to accommodate the growth.

There are 6 languages spoken in Polokwane: TshTsonga, Sepedi, English, Afrikaans, TshiVenda, and IsiNdebele. This is a prime example of just how many races are migrating to Polokwane whether it is to find jobs or put up a business in a thriving, populous city.

With the rapid expansion within the city growth rate has been pegged at 1 to 4% per annum. Commerce and banking is considered to be enjoying a growth rate of 9% These are figured based on the past 5 years alone which represents the peak, thus far, of Polokwane’s economy.

The fact about Polokwane is that it is a city that is proud of how far it has come. The residents have ensured that work and pleasure are well taken care of. They put a lot of effort in creating the right infrastructure, attention to the arts and culture, and care for the environment. Their proximity to Gauteng makes it easy for them to keep up with technology and political events. They are also close enough to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, and Mozambique which create a strategic hub for business, tourists, and residents.