Polokwane (UK: /ˌpɒləˈkwɑːni/,[2] meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern Sotho[3][4][5]), also known as Pietersburg, is the capital city of the Limpopo Province in South Africa.

In the 1840s, Voortrekkers under the leadership of Andries Hendrik Potgieter established Zoutpansbergdorp, a town 100 km (62 mi) to the north.

This settlement had to be abandoned because of clashes with the local tribes (Lebelo, Langa & Ledwaba clans), they founded a new town in 1886 and named it "Pietersburg" in honour of Voortrekker leader Petrus Jacobus Joubert.

Like many places in South Africa at the time of apartheid, racial segregation and inequality were fundamentally ingrained into the town,[7] following the end of the Second Boer War, together with the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, institutional laws were in place in terms of divided urban planning which were implemented continuously throughout this era.

The institutionalization of the notorious Group Areas Act in 1950 and its amendments in 1966 ensured that the spatial development of the Central Business District (CBD) was exclusively for whites and other regions of the CBD being exclusively for other races such as "Indian centre" for Indians/Asians, many regions were designated to only a specific race of people such as the suburbs of Nirvana and Westernburg at the northwest of the town only being occupied by Indian/Asian and Coloured groups respectively, while the suburb of Bendor being reserved for Whites.

Removals of minority groups for white residency, whites-only owned industrial sectors and a regular barrier between people of different races were heavily enforced.

Despite the number developments the city has seen, it has been plagued with persistent issues of poor service delivery, which has led to crucial infrastructure such as electricity, water, and sewage systems to continuously be sought after in the various communities that are constantly effected by their unavailability.

Public infrastructure such as traffic and street lights, roads, and sidewalks are also amongst the many problems the city's municipality faces.

[16] As with much of inland South Africa, Polokwane has experienced notably warmer seasons over the last decade than its long-term average.

Running east, the R71 connects the city with Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, Bushbuckridge, and the Kruger National Park.

The Nelson Mandela road traffic island is situated on the outskirts of Polokwane when approaching from the direction of Johannesburg.

Agricultural produce in the area, including tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar cane, peanuts, tea, bananas, and avocados, is also transported by freight rail.

[25] The city also hosts a branch of the country's largest independent radio station, Jacaranda RM/FM, which is broadcast from either Pretoria, Nelspruit or Polokwane itself.

The ZCC is characterised by the emphasis it places on faith healing, purification rites, dancing, night communion, river baptism, the holy spirit, taboos and prophesying.

The church celebrated its 100th years of existence during their September pilgrimage in 2024 which was attended by provincial government leadership, Kings, Chiefs, congregates and other dignitaries.

[41] The team broke several unwanted records, including the biggest first class loss in South African rugby history, when they lost 161–3 to the Golden Lions on 27 April 2013.

In 2017, Gift Ngoepe, born in Pietersburg, became the first African player in the Major League Baseball, playing shortstop and second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ngoepe's brother Victor also plays in the Pirates' farm system[43] The city provides access to various nature and wildlife viewing opportunities for ecotourists.

The Polokwane Game Reserve houses various South African species of wildlife, birdlife, and plants in an unspoiled bushveld environment.

[46]The city hosts several major industries such as Coca-Cola,[47] Freshmark (a division of Shoprite Checkers), and South African Breweries.

The city was well known for its manufacturing facility in Seshego of Tempest radios and hi-fis, the largest employer in the region.

Polokwane is a sister city with: By 1931, the Pietersburg municipal council had assumed a pseudo-heraldic "coat of arms".

[57] The arms are: Vert, on a fess Argent, a woven grain basket, between two hoes with blades turned inward proper, their handles towards centre-base counterchanged Or and issuant from a voided cogwheel the inner ring cotised Argent, therein a sun Or; on a chief of the last a short-clawed Lark (Mirafra chuana) perched upon a leaf of the silky thorn tree (Acacia rehmanniana) proper, between two demi-peaks with points embattled Brunatre, issuant from the respective shield flanks.