Many people use this website to traverse the history of Potchefstroom. This timeline will put events into perspective and in their respective places. The original was compiled by the staff of the Potchefstroom Museum many years ago. I have amended and augmented it. It was included in my book, Stories of Potchefstroom, and that one ended 2017. I have again added events to cover the last nine years and have added some photos. Links to articles on this blog with events mentioned here, are provided.
Potchefstroom has a rich and varied history. This timeline provides merely a brief overview.
1838
Potchefstroom was proclaimed on 22 December by the Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/street-names-reflect-history-16-the-lost-street-names-of-potchefstroom/ The town was originally at Oudedorp, upstream on the banks of the Mooi River approximately 10 km from the current location of the city.
1842
Potchefstroom was designated the capital of the Transvaal.
The town relocated from Oudedorp to its current location. It was laid out in 1841 by Hans “Duikervoet” Grobler by using raw thongs. Later surveyors noted that some erven were larger than others. It appears that the thongs expanded in the heat of the day and with handling. Hence, the properties laid out during a morning were smaller than ones laid out later in the day. Grobler received the farm on which the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds of the North-West University (NWU) is now situated as payment.
JH Grobler, known as “Hans Duikervoet” and his wife. He was the first magistrate of Potchefstroom and was tasked with the laying out of the new town when it relocated from Oudedorp to the current site. Photo: Potchefstroom Museum (PM)
1846
The first school opened.
1847
The first prison in the area opened.
1850
A postal service was established between Lydenburg and Potchefstroom. The post was carried by post runners.
The first market in Potchefstroom opened.
The first market was held on the square between Retief and Church Street (Walter Sisulu) and Maury Lane, later given to the Reformed Church. The market moved to market square in 1855 (where the Town Hall and municipal buildings now stand). This is one of the earliest depictions of the Market Square of Potchefstroom. Photo: Potchefstroom Museum
1851
The first church building was completed.
The first church building stood on the north-east corner of Church Square. During the week it was used by the school. Photo: Gedenkalbum van die Hervormde Gemeente Potchefstroom 1842-1992.
1852
The first execution of a murderer took place.
1853
Gold was discovered in the Potchefstroom district.
The first gunpowder magazine was built. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/gunpowder-magazine-small-but-strong/
The gunpowder magazine in Potchindustria was declared a National Monument (now a Grade 2 heritage site) in 1969.
1857
Potchefstroom became the capitol of the newly created Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek.
The first newspaper (De Staats Courant) appeared.
The first North Bridge was built.
A picturesque view of the second North Bridge. It replaced the first one after it became derelict. Photo: Gawie van der Walt Postcard Collection
1859
The first postmaster was appointed.
1861
A new water furrow was dug. Read more at: https://lenniegouws.co.za/water-for-potchefstroom/
The second cemetery laid out, currently known as the Park Cemetery. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/alexandra-park-the-lost-green-heart-of-potchefstroom/
1862
Bombardment in civil war between Paul Kruger, later president of the ZAR, and usurper Stephanus Schoeman occurred in the Bult area.
1863
Swedish immigrants settled at Scandinavia Drift.
OWA Forssman with his wife, Emelia. He was the leader of the Scandinavians who settled near Potchefstroom. Photo: PM
The first Cricket club in Transvaal was founded in Potchefstroom.
1864
A mail-coach service started between Pretoria and Potchefstroom.
1866
Potchefstroom had 275 houses and 1 200 inhabitants and was the largest town in Transvaal, the second was Pretoria with 300 inhabitants.
The inauguration of the second and current building of the Nederduitsche Hervormde Church took place.
The Nederduitsche Hervormde Church
1867
The streets of the town were gravelled.
The first agricultural show took place.
Both the buildings of the Reformed Church and the Dutch Reformed Church were inaugurated.
The first Anglican Church building was inaugurated. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/st-marys-anglican-church-the-first-english-church-across-the-vaal/
1868
The first municipal elections took place.
1869
Theological School of the Reformed Church was founded at Burgersdorp and moved to Potchefstroom in 1905. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/theological-school-complex-heavy-with-history/
1872
The first Methodist Church building was inaugurated.
1877
British troops annexed the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek.
The first commercial bank, Standard Bank, opened.
The black location, later Willem Klopperville, was laid out south of the town.
The old “Native Location” of Potchefstroom, later also known as William Klopperville or Makweteng. Photo: PM
1878
First library service and museum movement began. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-potchefstroom-library-more-than-a-century-of-service-to-the-community/
1880
The Fort at Potchefstroom was besieged. The 322 people in the Fort included a few civilians and British troops under Col Winsloe. For 95 days they were confined in an area 25 X 25 metres and six people died. This was the first hostilities of the First Anglo-Boer War. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/siege-of-the-potchefstroom-fort-a-story-of-sorrow-from-long-ago/
1881
Potchefstroom fell to the Boers in First Anglo-Boer War.
1884
The first Asians settled in Potchefstroom.
1887
The first private post boxes were made available. See my articles:
https://lenniegouws.co.za/how-potchefstroom-became-connected/
https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-demise-of-the-post-offices-of-potchefstroom/
https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-1910-post-office-building-practical-and-beautiful/
1889
The Potchefstroom Stock Exchange was founded.
ML Fick Primary School, the oldest school that still exists, was founded.
The oldest extant building at the ML Fick Primary school was constructed in 1909. This is how it appeared in 1912. Photo: PM
1890
The first rugby club in the Transvaal was founded.
1891
President Pretorius Primary School was founded.
1892
The development of a park with sports fields took place next to the cemetery. It was later named Alexandra Park in honour of the British queen.
A quiet path in the Alexandra Park. Photo: PM
1893
The first tennis club in Transvaal was founded in Potchefstroom.
1895
The second Dutch Reformed Church was inaugurated. It is the oldest DR Church north of the Vaal River and restored after a devastating fire in 2007.
The Dutch Reformed Church, Potchefstroom, after restoration.
1896
Building work on the Landdrost-, Post- en Telegraafkantoor (magistrate, post and telegraph office) was completed in May. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/landdrost-post-en-telegraafkantoor-most-beautiful-magistrates-court-of-all/
Die Landdrost-, Post- en Telegraafkantoor.
1897
The station and railroad between Potchefstroom and Johannesburg were officially opened. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/potchefstroom-railway-station-destroyed-by-fire/
1899
The Anglo-Boer War was declared on 11 October.
1900
British troops under General Sir Ian Hunter occupied Potchefstroom on 11 June.
A military hospital was created.
1902
A Health Committee was formed as the first local authority after war.
Church Street was renamed as King Edward Street and names of other streets were changed.
The Experimental Farm was founded. Read my articles: https://lenniegouws.co.za/erfenisgeboue-by-landboukollege-word-murasies-so-het-dit-eers-gelyk/
https://lenniegouws.co.za/street-names-reflect-history-1/
1903
The British Garrison housed approximately 1 000 soldiers in the cantonments.
Potchefstroom acquired municipal status.
The first private electrical power station went into operation. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/early-electricity-woes/
The Lyric Theatre opened on the corner of King Edward Street (Walter Sisulu) and Lombard Street (James Moroka).
The Lyric Theatre Photo: PM
A new cemetery was laid out west of the town.
Two orphanages were combined, from which the Hoër Tegniese Skool developed. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/a-heart-for-parentless-children/
1904
The first meeting of the Potchefstroom town council took place.
The new Methodist Church opened in May.
1905
The Theological School and Literary Department of the Reformed Church opened in Potchefstroom on 5 February after relocating from Burgersdorp.
The rector’s house was the first building to be completed in the complex that housed the Theological School when it relocated from Burgersdorp to Potchefstroom. Currently, it is a museum, known as the Totius House.
The Potchefstroom High School for Boys was founded.
1906
The railway line between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp opened.
1908
The first edition of the Potchefstroom Herald newspaper appeared on 1 May. Read my articles:
https://lenniegouws.co.za/cv-bate-founder-of-the-potchefstroom-herald-and-owner-for-half-a-century/
https://lenniegouws.co.za/pandemie-maak-herald-gratis/
The building of the Potchefstroom Dam started. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/water-for-potchefstroom/
The first 40 telephones were installed. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/how-potchefstroom-became-connected/
The golf links were officially opened, soon to become one of the best in South Africa.
The first club house of the golf links. Photo: D’Astre
1909
The Town Hall was officially opened on 10 March. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/stadsaal-is-meer-as-n-eeu-oud/
The Potchefstroom Town Hall as it appeared in 1909. Photo: Fred Coop
The Potchefstroom Town Hall as it appeared in 1909. Photo: Fred Coop
The Experimental Farm became an Agricultural School.
1910
A new post office building opened. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-1910-post-office-building-practical-and-beautiful/
Oak trees were planted along numerous streets in Potchefstroom. It was later declared a National Monument as the longest oak lane in South Africa. After years of decline, the Oak Avenue Interest Group, was launched in 2017 to create better awareness about the needs of the trees and to have new trees planted when old ones die off.
1912
An electrical power station opened in Kock Street. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/early-electricity-woes/
The official opening of the electrical power station on 26 June 1912. Photo: PM
Marathon runner Kenneth McArthur, an Irish-born policeman from Potchefstroom, won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Stockholm on 14 July. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/first-sporting-hub-of-potchefstroom/
1914
The hospital was opened.
The municipal library building, funded by Carnegie, opened next to the Town Hall. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-potchefstroom-library-more-than-a-century-of-service-to-the-community/
British troops withdrew from Potchefstroom, but a military training base remained.
1918
Approximately 500 people died from the Spanish Flu in Potchefstroom and district. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-pests-of-potch/
1919
A new railway station opened after the first one became inadequate to serve the town. See: https://lenniegouws.co.za/potchefstroom-railway-station-destroyed-by-fire/
The second railway station as it appeared shortly after it opened.
The Potchefstroom University College was founded after the Literary Department parted ways with the Theological School.
1920
The synagogue opened in Lombard Street (James Moroka).
1923
A new artillery school opened at Potchefstroom military base.
Witrand Hospital was founded as the second oldest psychiatric hospital in South Africa.
1925
On 22 June, Edward Prince of Wales, known to his family as David, visited Potchefstroom as part of a nationwide tour. Read my article: https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/news/2019/10/03/royal-visit-potchefstroom/
1926
A water purification service was installed.
The streets in town were tarred.
Church Street (Walter Sisulu) was tarred in 1926. Photo: PM
1928
The railway line opened between Potchefstroom and Fochville.
1930
A public swimming pool opened. Read my article; https://lenniegouws.co.za/alexandra-park-the-lost-green-heart-of-potchefstroom/
1939
A new airfield was officially opened at the south end of the town near the current sewerage plant. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/meer-as-100-jaar-van-vlieg-in-potchefstroom/
1940
The first Police station opened.
The Agricultural School became the Agricultural College.
The airfield moved to its current location.
1949
Various street names changed. King Edward Street again became Church Street. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/street-names-reflect-history-16-the-lost-street-names-of-potchefstroom/
1951
The Potchefstroom University College acquired full university status to become the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE).
1952
The National Gunners Memorial was unveiled, also known as the National Artillery Memorial. It is dedicated to all the gunners who laid down their lives for South Africa. It was one of only two Grade 1 listed Heritage Sites (of national importance) in Potchefstroom, but was later demoted to Grade 2 (provincial importance).
1954
The development of Ikageng started.
1955
The road between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom was tarred.
1956
Potchindustria was laid out.
1958
Boskop Dam was built. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/boskop-yacht-and-aquatic-club-a-place-of-pleasure-and-peace/
1959
Promosa was laid out.
1961
A devastating hail storm caused the death of twelve people in the Potchefstroom district. See my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/potchefstroom-se-grootste-rampe/
The Potchefstroom Museum opened.
The Potchefstroom Museum opened its doors in December 1961 in this building on the corner of Gouws Street (Sol Plaatjie) and Potgieter Street (Nelson Mandela).
1962
An automated telephone service was installed.
1963
The third and current North Bridge was built.
1967
The Triomf Fertilizer Plant opened in December 1967. The plant closed in 2006. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/street-names-reflect-history-13-t/
The caption that accompanied this sketch of the Triomf Fertilizer Plant in the Potchefstroom Herald of 8 October 1965 announced the building of the plant shortly before started.
1969
The current post office opened.
The Military District was upgraded to Northwest Command.
1971
The suburb of Mohadin was laid out.
The fire station opened in New Market Street.
1973
Twenty people died after an ammonia tank explosion at the Triomf Fertiliser Plant. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/ammonia-explosion-in-potchefstroom/
1975
The Asian Shopping Centre opened.
Potgieter Street (Nelson Mandela) was widened to a have four lanes.
1976
A self-governing body for Promosa was elected.
1977
The new prison opened at Mooibank.
The Totius House Museum, part of the Theological School Complex, officially opened as one of the house museums in Potchefstroom
1979
The house of MW Pretorius, former state president of the old ZAR, was declared a national monument and is now one of three house museums in Potchefstroom.
1982
A new library and museum building was officially opened.
The Library and Museum building as it appeared shortly after it opened. Photo: Potchefstroom Library
1983
A self-governing body for Ikageng was elected.
1984
A self-governing body for Mohadin was elected.
1985
The Goetz-Fleischack House, on the corner of Potgieter Street (Nelson Mandela) and Gouws Street (Sol Plaatjie), was declared a National Monument as the only example of an early town house still in existence in Potchefstroom. It was fitted out as a house museum. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/goetz-fleischack-museum-portraying-the-lifestyle-of-more-than-a-century-ago/
1986
The Pick ’n Pay Shopping Centre, currently known as West Acres, opened.
1988
Potchefstroom celebrated its 150th anniversary with wide-ranging festivities.
The AH Potgieter Banqueting Halls opened, later renamed Madiba Banqueting Halls
1989
The first private hospital opened as MediCity, currently Mediclinic.
1990
Riots took place in Ikageng.
1991
Wespol Plein opened, housing the regional and district commissioners of the SAPS.
1992
The Air Force base closed down.
1994
The first national democratic elections took place. The ANC won Potchefstroom with 59.08% of the votes.
Potchefstroom acquired city status.
1995
A new and the current fire station opened in Potchindustria.
1996
The Cachet Park Shopping Centre was developed.
1997
The Checkers Centre was enlarged and renamed the Riverwalk Centre.
1998
The first Aardklop National Art Festival took place.
The first logo of the Aardklop National Arts Festival. Source: Aardklop
2003
Three students died of meningitis. Wide-ranging measures were taken to contain the spread of the disease. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/the-pests-of-potch/
2004
The North-West University came into being after the merger of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) and the University of Bophuthatswana.
Numerous street names were changed. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/street-names-reflect-history-16-the-lost-street-names-of-potchefstroom/
2005
The Vredefort Dome, the biggest and oldest meteorite impact site in the world, was declared a World Heritage Site.
2006
The Potchefstroom Municipality became the Tlokwe Local Municipality.
The first prototype sailplane (glider), built by Attie and Uys Jonker, flew for the first time in December. By 2025 their factory Jonker Sailplanes, had built 470 sailplanes. The factory relocated from the Potchefstroom airfield to Modderdam Road in April 2026.
2007
The Kynoch Fertiliser Plant, previously known as Triomf, closed.
The Dutch Reformed Church, on the corner of Beyers Naudé and Nelson Mandela Drive, was destroyed by fire due to an electrical fault, but was fully restored and inaugurated in 2011.
2008
The MooiRivier Mall opened.
The distinctive water wheel at the MooiRivier Mall.
The Potchefstroom Herald celebrated its centenary.
The front page of the centenary edition of the Potchefstroom Herald. It was published in May 2008. Photo: Herald
2009
On 16 November, the statue of Totius, which stood since 1977 at the southern end of Molen Street, had been moved to the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU and was unveiled there. It was again removed in 2015 during the nation-wide demonstrations against statues of historical figures such as Rhodes and placed in the foyer of the Administration Bureau of the Reformed Church.
2010
Potchefstroom hosted the Spanish soccer team during the Soccer World Cup.
The Sports Village opened. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/sports-village-olympic-medal-champ/
2012
The KK McArthur Marathon and Road Races were held in honour of the centenary of McArthur winning an Olympic gold medal.
2015
In July, TT Cloete the award-winning poet, Bible translator, man of letters, and scientific researcher, who lived in Potchefstroom for most of his life, passed away at the age of ninety.
Prof TT Cloete. Photo: NWU Records, Archive and Museums
On 31 August, the Jack Pauw Hostel at the Hoër Volkskool burned down. It was later restored.
In December, the first Liggiefees was held as a fundraiser for the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home. Since then, it has become very popular. More information is available at: https://lenniegouws.co.za/a-heart-for-parentless-children/
2016
The first rugby team of the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU won the Varsity Cup. Later that year, the NWU also became Varsity Cup champions in netball and cricket, making it the first university to win three championships in one year. The NWU netball team also claim victory in 2017 and 2025.
Maties vs Pukke, Varsity Cup Rugby Final. Pukke are champions, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch,11 April 2016.
Photo: Liam Hamer-Nel/alliancephoto.com
2017
The Tlokwe Local Municipality and Ventersdorp Municipality merged and was named the JB Marks Local Municipality.
On 7 June, PG du Plessis, the Afrikaans author, dramatist and academic, passed away at the age of 82. He lived for many years on a farm in the Rysmierbult area.
In November, an alumna of the NWU, Potchefstroom Campus, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, became Miss Universe after being crowned as Miss South Africa earlier in the year. While she was a student at the NWU, Potchefstroom Campus, she became Miss Varsity Cup in 2015.
On 23 November, Shane Dadswell (20), playing cricket for PUKKE, set a world record. He hit the most runs in an innings in a limited overs game for club and school cricket. Dadswell hit 490 runs off 151 balls in a game against Potch Dorp 1.
Potchefstroom Gimnasium was named as the best Quintile 4 school in the country. The school received this honour also in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and took second place in 2026.
2018
In January, the new branding of the NWU with the distinctive colour purple, a vibrant and royal colour, was rolled out on all campuses. Students and staff of the university and residents of Potchefstroom literally woke up one morning to the colour purple on all the billboards of the university.
Pukki, the mascot of the NWU, Potchefstroom Campus, at the time the rebranding took place depicting his new “purple skin”. Photo: NWU Records, Archive and Museums
The Bult City Improvement District, officially known as the Cachet Park CID NPC, a non-profit organization, was founded to keep the Bult and Cachet Park area outside North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus clean, safe, and tidy.
2020
Covid hit Potchefstroom in March with far-reaching changes. The last Potchefstroom Herald readers could buy was dated 27 March 2020, the day after the lockdown started. Since then, it is distributed free of charge.
On 17 July, the General’s House, a Grade 2 listed heritage site burned down. Read my article: https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/potchefstroom-has-lost-one-its-grand-old-buildings
On 13 August, the Mooirivier Junction shopping centre was opened, situated north of the Mooirivier and west of Thabo Mbeki Drive.
On 19 September, the Potchefstroom railway station was destroyed by fire. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/potchefstroom-railway-station-destroyed-by-fire/
On 29 October, the smithy at the President Pretorius Museum collapsed. Read my article: https://lenniegouws.co.za/smithy-at-the-president-pretorius-museum-collapsed/
2021
On 12 January, a group of squatters overnight occupied land south of Viljoen Street. After court cases, they were, in April 2023, eventually removed to a site on the Dassierand Road.
The Vyfhoek Shopping Centre was officially opened on 25 February.
A former mayor, Kgotse Khumalo and two municipal officers, Mohau Shiping and Cyril Henry, were accused of allegedly stealing an amount of R577 218 from the JB Marks Local Municipality in 2018 and 2019. The pre-trail took place in August 2021. They were charged, amongst other allegations, after questions were asked following an exorbitantly costly weekend that a few municipal officials attended. It included a visit to the very posh Durban July, funded with public money unlawfully hoarded in a trust account at a local law firm. All three pleaded not guilty. The trial suffered many delays and as late as September 2026, has not yet been finalised.
2022
On 18 August, five learners of the Vyfhoek Primary School died in a freak accident after an out-of-control truck burst through the school fence.
2023
In April the NWU triumphed over UCT in the final match of the Varsity Cup with a score of 27-25. On advice of the SAPS no spectators were allowed at the game. Shortly afterwards the Young Guns Eagles followed in the footsteps of their Varsity Cup brothers and beat Maties 27-26.
The SAPS Potchefstroom received an award for being the best police station in the North West Province.
2024
Potchefstroom was the base for the u.19 Proteas during the u.19 World Cup that took place in South Africa from 19 January to 11 February. The u.19 Proteas played all their matches in Potchefstroom.
Bourbons, one of the legendary student pubs in Potchefstroom, closed its doors on 10 August. It opened on 2 August 1989. The building was sold to a church group who converted it for worship services.
2025
On 10 November 2025, Robert Joubert (73) entered the head offices of Chubby Chick and shot the two brothers Deon and Johnathan Fourie, who were the owners. Johnathan died on the scene and Deon on 14 December from complications due to the shooting. During a court hearing a clinical psychologist said that the accused was diagnosed with numerous psychological disturbances.
Deon and Johnathan Fourie with their father, John, who passed away on 16 June 2023. John took over the family business in 1969. Photo: Herald
And so, history marches on. People, shops, regimes and events come and go. This blog covers many of the events mentioned here, but not all.
