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Hello
2010 Fifa WC is finally here, so let's show off our city's beauty, smile constantly and shower our guests with hospitality. But most important, as the rainbow nation, let's stand behind our national team. Bafana Bafana, we back you! Waka Waka! |
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Pretoria Things to brag about!
If you are hosting international guests or just want to explore something different in our diverse city, these are the places to see or brag about! |
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Art and Culture Lovers: State Theatre
The complex with its five theatres regularly hosts world-class productions ranging from opera, ballet, music, drama, cabaret and children's theatre in which local and international artists perform. The theatre is located in the city centre and offers under-cover parking.
Address: Cnr Church and Prinsloo Streets, Central Pretoria
Tel: +27 (0)12 392 4000 / 60 |
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A unique experience: De Wildt Cheetah Centre
A research and breeding centre for the African wild dog, brown hyena and cheetah, including the magnificent and rare king cheetah.
Address: Off R513 Brits Road (see website for directions)
Tel: +27 (0)12 504 1921 (Tour bookings) |
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The Elephant Sanctuary - Hartbeespoort Dam
The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe haven for elephants, whilst also offering a unique platform for guest education and interaction. Guests will not only learn about elephants, but also get to touch, feel, feed, walk trunk-in-hand and even ride the elephants.
How to get there: See directions on website
Tel: +27 (0)12 258 0423 / 0332 |
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Enjoy Pretoria from a different angle: Steam train rides
Steam train rides in and around Tshwane are popular tourist and corporate outings. Although the vintage carriages were not designed with the elderly or disabled in mind, mobility-impaired and sight-impaired tourists are welcomed. However, make arrangements in advance.
Address: Trains depart from Pretoria station, at the end of Paul Kruger Street
Tel: +27 (0)82 098 6186 (Reservations) |
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Heritage and Architectural wonder: Union Buildings
Set in an attractive terraced garden with magnificent views of the city, the imposing Union Buildings complex is a famous landmark in Tshwane. The buildings form the official seat of South Africa's government and house the Presidency and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1909, building started in 1909 and was completed in 1913. This landmark saw the advent of democracy in South Africa with the inauguration of South Africa's first democratically elected head of state, former President Nelson Mandela here in May 1994. Former President Thabo Mbeki was also inaugurated here, as well as President Jacob Zuma in May 2009. |
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Dining the traditional way: BOER'geoisie Restaurant
Boer'geoisie is a small, intimate restaurant boasting a magical South African ambiance. The menu is well balanced with true South African dishes, included our famous meat, pap, a wide variety of the best wines Africa has to offer, and is perfectly suited for even the European, Asian and American pallet.
Contact: 012 460 0264
Greenlyn Village
13th Street, Menlo Park
Pretoria
0081 |
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Dining the traditional way: KAROO Cattle and Land
Karoo Cattle and Land also offer a spectacular South African menu and ambiance.
Contact: 012 662 1111
Shop 176,
Irene Village Mall
Irene
0157 |
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South African hospitality at its best: True South African braai hosted at your own home
South Africa and Pretoria in particular is known for our great hospitality. Treat your guests to a true South African braai – Include the best Fillet cuts, Patato Salad, Pap and sheba, and treat them to a delicious Malva pudding or mouth watering Milktart. Remember to stock up on Biltong – a real treat for international guests! (Tip: If they want to know what biltong is, refer to it as Beef jerky).
Go to Groenkloof Butchery for the best meat Pretoria has to offer.
Contact: 012 460 6449 |
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Don't forget to spoil your dad this Father's day on 20 June ! |
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THEATRE
Diamonds & Pearls The Barnyard Theatre Menlyn - Pretoria
1 June - 11 July 2010
Mbongeni Ngema's Lion of the East SA State Theatre - Pretoria
8 June - 11 July 2010
Shaka - The Musical SA State Theatre - Pretoria
26 June - 18 July 2010
SPORT
2010 Soccer Festival of golf Irene Country Club - Irene
11 June - 18 June 2010
MUSIC
Tidal Waves, Wrestlerish, etc Tings an' Times - Pretoria
3 June 2010
Saturday Shakedown Tings an' Times - Pretoria
5 June 2010
Tidal Waves live News Cafe Menlyn
12 June 2010
OTHER
Baba Indaba Pretoria
Tshwane Event Centre
4 June - 6 June 2010
Green Market Rademeyers - Moreleta
5 June 2010
Potjiekos Challenge and Alternative Energy Event! Klitsgras Drumming Circle - Pretoria
5 June 2010
Irene Village Market and Picnic Concerts
Irene Village Market
12 June 2010
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FIFA 2010! Important dates and facts.
Sport has something magical about it, something that can bring a nation together. Pretoria.co.za is a proud supporter of Bafana Bafana - catch them at Loftus Versfeld the proud host of six of the FIFA 2010 matches!
Facts:
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, situated in Tshwane/ Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa. The stadium has been used for major sporting events since 1903. The first concrete structure, which could accommodate only 2,000 spectators, was built by the City Council of Pretoria in 1923.
Since 1948 it has undergone perennial upgrades. It has been used for both rugby and football matches and is home to one of the country's top rugby teams, the Blue Bulls. Loftus Versfeld is in the heart of Tshwane/Pretoria and currently has a seating capacity of 50,000. It has hosted many significant matches including during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 CAF African Cup of Nations. It is now used by Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United as their home ground.
Dates:
| Match |
Date/Time |
Stage |
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| 8 |
13June 16:00 |
D |
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Serbia |
- |
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Ghana |
| 17 |
16 June 20:30 |
A |
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South Africa |
- |
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Uruguay |
| 26 |
19 June 20:30 |
E |
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Cameroon |
- |
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Denmark |
| 38 |
23 June 16:00 |
C |
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USA |
- |
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Algeria |
| 47 |
25 June 16:00 |
H |
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Chile |
- |
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Spain |
| 55 |
29 June 20:30 |
Round of 16 |
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1F |
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2E |
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Vuvu-what?
Viva Vuvuzela – "Shower" Bafana Bafana with "noise"!
A vuvuzela, sometimes called a "lepatata" (its Setswana name) or a stadium horn, is a blowing horn, approximately one metre in length, commonly blown by fans at association football matches in South Africa. The origin of the name is disputed. It may originate from the Zulu for "making noise," from the "vuvu" sound it makes, or from township slang related to the word for "shower." Get your vuvuzela online www.vuvuzelasouthafrica.co.za or get your at the stadium!
Hats ON (yes, not off) to Bafana Bafana!
A makaraba or makarapa, is the artfully created headgear of the South African soccer fans. You can also call them fan |
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helmets. Soccer in South Africa is supported by loyal fans who do not only wear their teams colors but also create their own headgear to show their support.
The word which was originally used to describe the hats of the South African miners, is today used to describe the colorful protective headgear at soccer games. South African soccer fans used to take the hard hats to the soccer matches to protect their head against these flying objects. So the hats were originally used by the rival soccer fans in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Because the hats looked pretty boring, the idea of decorating the hard hats was born. Luckily nowadays most of the matches are peaceful and the beautiful fan helmets now only serves as decorative headgear.
Goodbye Language barrier, hallo SA hospitality!
These are the main languages you will be hearing around Pretoria for the duration
of the FIFA World Cup! Learn these easy words and make a great impression!
Serbian:
Hello = "zdravo" (pronounced pretty much as it's spelt)
Welcome = "dobrodošli" (the "s" is pronounced like "sh")
French:
Hello = "Salut" (pronounced sah-loo)
Welcome = "Bienvenue" (pronounced pretty much as it's spelt) |
Spanish:
Hello – "Hola" (pronounced Ho-la)
Welcome = "Bienvenida" (pronounced pretty much as it's spelt)
Danish:
Hello = "Hej" (pronounced like the English "Hi")
Welcome = "Velkommen" (pronounced pretty much as it's spelt) |
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Sing: Waka Waka World Cup 2010!
Local South African band, Freshlyground has been chosen to sing the official Soccer World Cup 2010 song in collaboration with
international pop sensation, Shakira! Here are the lyrics…now you sing it!
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
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You're a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle
You're on the front line
Everyone's watching
You know it's serious
We're getting closer
This isn't over |
The pressure's on; you
feel it
But you got it all; believe it
When you fall get up oh oh
And if you fall get up eh eh
Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa |
Listen to your God; this is
our motto
Your time to shine
Don't wait in line
Y vamos por todo
People are raising their
expectations
Go on and feel it
this is your moment
No hesitation |
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Loving SA with all my heart!
A few years ago a friend and I looked at 4 red wooden letters that, when put together, spelt L.O.V.E.
They were separate from each other so that you could arrange it the way you creatively felt inspired to. We both had different ideas of how to arrange these letters on the shelf and it became clear that everyone had a special way of "spelling" LOVE. Although it is the same 4 letters, you have the freedom to express it, read it, and interpret it in your own way.
Love forms an integral part of our being and constitutes of a variety of things. The love of God (Agape), the love between a man and a woman (Eros), the love of our friends, family and our neighbors (Phileo), the love of our planet, the love of our country, and for some, the most important of them all, the love of sport.
The FIFA World Cup 2010 is lurking on the doorstep of South Africa with the entire planet eagerly waiting to witness it. Personally, although a huge sports fan, I am not a keen soccer supporter. In fact, to me it was a nuisance. I was deeply irritated by the fact that my home country was disrupted by road works, that detours would become synonym with everyday traveling, with the height in prices on public transport, food, entertainment (just to mention a few), that my right to travel freely to and from my home to my office would be ripped from me and access passes are now at the order of the day and that I would have to sacrifice 6 DSTV channels to a sport with 11 hooligans a side, kicking the ball to and fro for 90 minutes, ending in a draw (0 – 0). NO GOALS SCORED! Pointless.
After a long, exhausting day, on my way home last week, Hans Strijdom's traffic congestion firmly swung its arms around my car and decided to caress me for 1 hour 12 minutes and 23 seconds. Lividness is an understatement. I was cursing out load, blaming the taxis, the government, soccer and Julius Malema. I raised my eyes to the heavens with the hope of acquiring some sort of comfort and calm. And it was then when I saw the most beautiful, colourful flags, representing an array of countries, fitted to each lamp post, lining the road with awesomeness...
..don't miss the rest of this heart warming, proudly South African article, click here |
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7 Minutes with Bafana Bafana
Scratch up on your knowledge of a few of Bafana Bafana's key players!
| Steven Pienaar |
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Date of birth:
17 March 1982
Playing position:
Winger
Attacking midfielder
Current Club:
Everton |
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Nickname:
Schillo
Interesting fact:
Wears a vest under his match jersey that says, "God is Great".
Things he misses most about SA when playing abroad:
My family, my baby, the weather and the food! |
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| Matthew Booth |
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Date of birth:
14 March 1977
Playing position:
Defender
Current Club:
Mamelodi Sundowns |
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Interesting fact:
He touches the ground and says a few words of thanks when stepping onto the pitch.
If he could invite 5 people to dinner it would be:
His wife, Sonia, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Trevor Noah and Muhammad Ali. |
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| Rowen Fernández |
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Date of birth:
28 February 1978
Playing position:
Goalkeeper
Current Club:
Arminia Bielefeld (Germany) |
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Marital status:
Engaged to Sandie Mclaren
Interesting fact:
He kicked his way into the history books in February 2007 when he pounced on the rebound, after Brian Baloyi of Mamelodi Sundowns could only parry his retaken spot kick and knocked the ball home from close range. The fact that Rowen had missed the kick and scored on the rebound meant that his thirty second minute equalizer against Sundowns was not classified as a penalty, but instead it was recorded as a goal scored from open play. |
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| Katlego Mphela |
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Date of birth:
29 November 1984
Playing position:
Striker
(He is also the captain of the team)
Current Club:
Mamelodi Sundowns |
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Nickname:
Killer
How he made his mark:
Mphela established himself as South Africa's first-choice striker after the 2009 Confederations Cup and has made 24 appearances for the national team, scoring nine times. He also won the domestic Golden Boot after bagging 17 goals in 30 league appearances for his club. |
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| Teko Modise |
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Date of birth:
22 December 1982
Playing position:
Winger
Current Club:
Orlando Pirates |
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Nickname:
Deco
Favourite food:
Pasta and Mince
Motto in Life:
Live today like it's your last |
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| Carlos Parreira |
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Date of birth:
27 February 1943
Place of birth:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Position:
Bafana Bafana Coach |
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Interesting fact:
Parreira is noted for having been one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998.
What he earns:
€ 1,200,000 (roughly R11.3m) per year |
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