Thaba Tshwane
Thaba Tshwane is a military base (or military area) in Pretoria, South Africa.
Thaba Tshwane
Voortrekkerhoogte (formerly) Roberts Heights (originally) | |
|---|---|
 SA Army College in Thaba Tshwane | |
  Thaba Tshwane  Thaba Tshwane | |
| Coordinates: 25.7901°S 28.1421°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| Municipality | City of Tshwane |
| Area | |
| • Total | 32.76 km2 (12.65 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 6,727 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (530/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 68.5% |
| • Coloured | 0.6% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.1% |
| • White | 30.5% |
| • Other | 0.4% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Northern Sotho | 29.1% |
| • Afrikaans | 27.9% |
| • S. Ndebele | 8.2% |
| • Tsonga | 7.3% |
| • Other | 27.5% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 0187 |
| PO box | 0143 |
Units and facilities
The oldest building in the complex is the South African Garrison Institute, what is now known as the Army College. Lord Kitchener laid the cornerstone on 12 June 1902.[2]
Today the installation is home to:
- the South African Army College,
- the South African National Defence College under Rear-Admiral Laura Janse van Vuuren (),
- the National Ceremonial Guard and Band,
- the Military Police School,
- 1 Military Hospital,
- Bagaka Regiment,
- Ukhosi Parachute Engineer Regiment,
- Madzhakandila Anti-Aircraft Regiment,
- 1 Military Printing Regiment,
- Tshwane Regiment (Motorised Infantry),
- Steve Biko Artillery Regiment (Artillery Formation) and
- 4 Survey and Map Regiment.
Names and history
Founded around 1905 by the British Army, and called Roberts Heights[3] after Field Marshal Lord Roberts. The area was subsequently renamed Voortrekkerhoogte ("Voortrekker Heights") in 1939 by the government of the Union of South Africa, following the beginning of the building of the nearby Voortrekker Monument, at a time of growing Afrikaner nationalism. On 19 May 1998, following the end of apartheid, it was renamed again, as Thaba Tshwane.[4]
References
- "Main Place Thaba Tshwane". Census 2011.
- Du Preez, Sophia (1989). "Voortrekkerhoogte 90 Jaar Oud". Scientaria Militaria. 19 (1).
- Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar (in Afrikaans). Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
- "The name of the military base, Voortrekkerhoogte is officially changed to Thaba Tshwane". sahistory.org.za. 19 May 1998. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
External links
- The 1998 speech by South Africa's Minister of Defence on the renaming of Voortrekkerhoogte to Thaba Tshwane
- Experiences at Voortrekkerhoogte Military base in 1984
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