Tshwane deputy city manager Lindiwe Kwele welcomes guests

Leading industry figures from across Africa have celebrated the emergence of South African city Tshwane as a tourism powerhouse during an event running alongside World Travel Market in London.

Guests gathered at South Africa House for the event, which was hosted by Tshwane deputy city manager Lindiwe Kwele.

Delegates were offered an insight into what makes the city so special during a stunning multimedia presentation.

The City of Tshwane – which includes Pretoria - is the second largest municipality in Gauteng and is among the six biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.

Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa and houses the Union Buildings. 

Government plays an important role in Tshwane’s economy, but there are many other sectors that are doing extremely well.

In fact, the city has adapted to globalisation remarkably well and has all the elements of a smart city.

South African High Commissioner Zola Skweyiya greets Kwele

Tshwane has positioned itself as Africa’s leading capital city of excellence.

The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality was established on December 5th 2000 when the following local authorities which had previously served the greater Pretoria and surrounding areas were integrated.

The main economic sectors in the municipality’s area are community service followed by finance and manufacturing. Tourism is also of growing significance.

The largest sub-sector within manufacturing is metal products, machinery and household appliances, followed by the manufacturing of transport equipment.

All the major banks and financial services institutions have offices in Tshwane.

Skweyiya talks delegates through the Tshwane offering

Tshwane is steeped in a rich cultural heritage intertwined with the South African history.

For many turbulent decades, Tshwane has played a key role in the political history of South Africa. It was appropriate, therefore, that the liberation struggle culminated in the birth of our democracy at the Union Buildings.

The eyes of an ecstatic world were on the city on May 10th 1994 when the people’s president, Nelson Mandela, was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected president.