Pretoria

Pretoria, capital of the Transvaal, in South Africa, stands in a plain sheltered by encircling mountains, 980 miles from Capetown and 285 by rail (1893) W. of Lorenzo Marques, on Delagoa Bay. It is named from the Boer leader Andries Pretorius (died 1853), who saved the Trekkers by repeatedly defeating the Zulus, till then triumphant (see TRANSVAAL). New public buildings were erected in 1891, and the railway hither was opened in 1893. During the Transvaal war it was formally occupied by Lord Roberts on 5th June 1900, and the new government of the city as a British town organised. Pop. 10,000.