Do you know the three capitals of South Africa?

When asked if do you know the three capitals of South Africa, surely your first reaction will be surprise. It is by no means common for a country to have three capitals. As if that were not enough, Johannesburg, which is the most populated city, is not among them.

In fact, it is a unique case in the world. Only the Netherlands, whose capital is Amsterdam, but its administration is located in Hague. And also Bolivia, whose capital is the city of Sugar, while the seat of government is in La Paz . But we have asked you if you know the three capitals of South Africa and, below, we will answer the question.

Why does South Africa have three capitals?

Even if it means going beyond the topic at hand, we can't resist reminiscing with you the good memories that this country in southern Africa brings us. Saw the Spanish soccer team win the only world championship our nation has till the date. That goal Iniesta in extra time it is unforgettable.

But, returning to the question of the three capitals of South Africa, this fact has an explanation. And, to give it to you, we must travel back in time to the beginning of the 1910th century. In XNUMX the South African Union, embryo of what would later be the South Africa. It was made up of four former colonies that were Natal, Orange River, Cape and Transvaal. Each had its own capital and, already in 1961, when the country was formed, a strong debate developed about what its political and administrative center should be.

It was adopted as a Solomonic solution that those that served as such in the last three colonies mentioned were capitals. So, Pretoria, that of the Transvaal, became the seat of executive power; Bloemfontein, from Río Orange, housed the judicial one, and Cape to the legislature. Therefore, the Natal region was left out and this also has an explanation. This colony was the only one that nay of the creation of the state of South Africa in the 1960 referendum.

In any case, the political-administrative division of the country today is different. It's divided in nine provinces which are: North West (with capital at Mafikeng), Mpumalanga (Mbombela), Limpopo (Polokwane), KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg), Gauteng (Johannesburg), Free State (Bloemfontein), Eastern Cape (Bhisho), Western Cape (City of Cape) and North Cape (Kimberley).

But, returning to the topic of whether you know the three capitals of South Africa, below, we are going to show you their main attractions.

Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela ended Apartheid

It was founded in 1855 by Martinus Pretorius, who named it after his father, Andries Pretorius, one of the great leaders of the Boers. As you know, these were farmers of Dutch origin who settled in the region starting in the 17th century.

But, above all, Pretoria has passed down to posterity because in it Nelson Mandela was appointed president of South Africa, putting, in this way, end to Apartheid or racial segregation. Precisely, if you travel to the city, you can visit the Apartheid Museum, where tribute is paid to all the people who suffered it. Among them, in addition to Mandela himself, Stephen Biko. But the exhibition of the 1311 ribbons suspended from the ceiling is truly shocking. Because they pay tribute to the many other political prisoners executed during that time.

Pretoria also has other museums. Among them, the one of Art, which contains an important ethnic collection; the one from the Transvaal, dedicated to geology and natural history, and that of History and National Culture, on rock art, archeology and ethnology. Different character have the Van Wow houses, which shows works by this famous Dutch sculptor, and Paul Kruger, politician who led the Boer resistance against England. Precisely the first created the monument to the second that you can see in Church Square, which we will talk to you about below.

Church Square and other monuments to see in Pretoria

This square is the nerve center of the city and houses its main monuments. It is the case of Courthouse, where Nelson Mandela was tried. And of Raadsaal, former parliament of the Transvaal. But also of the Central Post Office designed by William Hawke, Tudor Chambers or Capitol Theater.

Furthermore, the Union Buildings They house the current parliament and respond to the British monumental style. Its creator was the architect Herbert Baker and they stand out for their large dimensions, as they measure 285 meters long, but, above all, for their magnificent chime, identical to that of London's Big Ben. Likewise, very close to them you have the Voortrekker monument, tribute to the Boer settlers. And in the university complex you have some historical buildings of interest such as the Faculty of Arts.

We also advise you to see the neocolonial style railway station; Melrose House, where peace was signed between the Boers and the British in 1902, and the fort Klapperkop, today a military museum and which offers you a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Finally, enjoy the many green areas that Pretoria has. Between them, Burgers Park, Princes Park, the zoo and various botanical gardens.

Bloemfontein, "the city of roses"

When we answered the question of whether you know the three capitals of South Africa, we told you that Bloemfontein is the one that houses the judiciary. But it also has numerous attractions. It is known as "the city of roses" due to the large number of these that occur in the area and because a festival dedicated to this flower is celebrated every year.

Its foundation occurred in 1846 by the British officer Henry Warden as an advanced fort in the Transorange region. Furthermore, in 1912 the African National Congress, in which Mandela would later serve, to defend the rights of the black majority. And, as a curiosity, we will tell you that it is the city where he was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, Author of The Lord of the Rings.

Naval Hill and other Bloemfontein landmarks

In the naval hill you have a spectacular monument. It is dedicated to the battle that took place there during the Second Boer War and also to the role of South Africans in the British navy. Likewise, you can see the Museu de Armas, with an original military hospital. And, very close, it is the planetarium, which, at the time, was the only one south of the Sahara.

Likewise, it is magnificent Monument to Women, created in 1913 to pay tribute to the role of women in the history of South Africa. It is made up, as a central element, of the statue of a woman with a child in her arms that represents all South African women.

Finally, visit the city zoo and the Kings Park Botanical Garden. But above all, the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, located in the former governor's residence and dedicated to African art from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Cape

Likewise, when we answered the question of whether you know the three capitals of South Africa, we told you that Cape Town is the seat of the legislative power. Its founder was the Dutch navigator Jan Van Riebeeck in 1652, who thus created the first European settlement in sub-Saharan Africa. It was also the largest city in the region until it was surpassed by Johannesburg y Durban thanks to the so-called “Witwatersrand gold rush”.

Today it has become an important tourist center. It receives almost a million and a half visitors attracted by its monuments, activities and magnificent beaches like Boulders. It is located in the Table Mountain National Park, is protected because it is home to a colony of penguins with which you can swim.

Castle of Good Hope and other monuments of Cape Town

It is a fort built in the 17th century following the model of italian layout. This is characterized by having several low-rise buildings, but with polygonal and solid shapes, accompanied by projections or defensive bastions. In 1936 he was declared National Monument. Already in the eighties, it was restored and today it is one of the best examples of the strength of the Dutch East India Company in Africa.

Likewise, you should visit Cape Town the District 6 Museum, dedicated to the tragedy of Apartheid. And you can complete the information in Robben Island, which houses the prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for twenty-seven years.

On the other hand, the neighborhood of Woodstock It is one of the most vital in the city. In it you can see more than a hundred manifestations of urban art that decorate buildings. Likewise, you have to visit the Kirstenbosch botanical garden, which, with its more than seven thousand species of plants, is one of the best in the world. Finally, you have to go on an excursion. It's about the one that takes you to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point National Park. For many years it was thought to be the southernmost point of Africa, but it's not like that. This place is located in the cape of Needles.

In conclusion, we have tried to answer the question of whether do you know the three capitals of South Africa. As you have seen, these are three cities that offer you many attractions. Dare to discover them.