Host Cities

1-Johannesburg

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Johannesburg is the business hub of South Africa, contributing a substantial part of the country's GDP approximately 12%.Jozi, as it is affectionately known by its inhabitants, can also be a sanctuary of peace and calm. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, Johannesburg is unexpectedly green and orientated towards outdoor living. It has a wealth of trees creating an 'urban forest', and many of the trees are located in the 2328 parks.Cultural wealth is also in abundance, with a host of interesting museums including the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and the living memory of the South Western Townships (SOWETO). The Mai Mai Market is the oldest market in Johannesburg and is a great place to discover traditional remedies.The city is in close proximity to the Cradle of Humankind. This UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses the Sterkfontein caves, the site where the oldest hominoid skeletons were found.

History
The Tswana name for Johannesburg is eGoli, place of gold, however, the San and Stone Age people were the first inhabitants of the area. The face of the area changed when an Australian gold prospector generated interest in the mineral wealth beneath the surface.Johannesburg became a city in 1886, during the beginning of the Witwatersrand Gold Rush.The city also became a political hotspot during the apartheid years. Soweto was an important instrument in the liberation of South Africa. In 1955, many anti-apartheid movements met in Kliptown to sign the Freedom Charter. The Charter enshrined the belief in equality for all. It also became the working document for the current Constitution of South Africa.

Football
The heartland of South African football, Johannesburg is the backbone of the professional game. The majority of clubs come from the city and its surrounds and the city's stadiums have hosted numerous historic matches.The city centre has been at the core of football development in South Africa. Professional football was formed in the offices of the old Rand Daily Mail newspaper in 1958. In later years, football unity talks took place at the old Rand International Hotel. Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Jomo Cosmos and the now defunct Highlands Park, Rangers and Lusitano have all been championship-winning clubs.Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates have the biggest fan bases of any teams in southern Africa. When these two heavyweights meet in the Soweto Derby, it is easy to see why the fixture is among the most fiercely contested matches across the globe.Johannesburg has also produced quality players. Jomo Sono, founder of Jomo Cosmos FC, and Kaizer Motaung, founder of Kaizer Chiefs, both played in the North American Soccer League in the United States. Sono played with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer at the New York Cosmos.Patrick "Ace" Ntsoelengoe is revered as one of the greatest football players South Africa has ever produced. He enjoyed immense success in the NASL.The Premier League-based Wits are a team based at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and has one of the largest clubs in the world, with membership totalling over 1,500 players. Due to their location, the team is affectionately known as the 'Clever Boys'.Nelson Mandela is somewhat of a talisman for South African sports teams in Johannesburg. He was present for the finals of the 1995 Rugby World Cup at Ellis Park, when South Africa became the world champions. He was also present a year later at Soccer City for the finals of the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which South Africa won.

2-Rustenburg

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Rustenburg in the heart of the savannah bushveld is a restful city. The city is in the North West Province, nestled at the foothills of the breathtaking Magaliesburg Mountains. The highest point in this mountain range is 1,852m above sea level and has been a tactical region for many battles for land during the early 1800s.The region is rich in mineral wealth and boasts the most platinum mined in the world making it the platinum capital of the world. Mining, therefore, provides the most employment in the area.Rustenburg is also 30 kilometres from the sensational Sun City, incorporating The Palace of the Lost City. Attractions at this resort include hot air balloon rides, The Valley of Waves and a 25-hectare jungle.The Hartebeesport Dam, only 40 minutes from Rustenburg, is a getaway for many people, and the easy pace of life at the dam is a great place to unwind.

History
The Bafokeng people originate from this area. Bafokeng means 'people of the dew'. They are originally from the Bakwena people, and settled near in the area more than 200 years ago. The 36 ^th reigning monarch is King Leruo Molotlegi.It has a strong Voortrekker (Dutch farming settlers) influence and was one of the first cities of importance in their history. In 1851, they named the city Rustenburg, which means 'place of rest'.

Football
Professional football is a novelty in the Rustenburg area. Garankuwa United play in the Mvela First Division and their home stadium is in Mabopane in North West Province. However, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and the Olympia stadium have been used by the national team and clubs to host matches.Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates, Silver Stars and Jomo Cosmos have all used the stadiums as alternate home grounds. In 1999, the South African League Cup final was played at the stadium for the first time with Mamelodi Sundowns beating Free Sate Stars 2-0.In 2000, South Africa were victorious 4-0 against Mauritius in a COSAFA Cup game held in Rustenburg.

3-Tshwane/Pretoria

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Tshwane/Pretoria's rich and colourful heritage is reflected in the city's myriad of museums and monuments and is punctuated by contemporary arts and craft markets, making the city alive with a unique blend of new and old.

Tshwane/Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa. Many embassies thus call this city their home.

The Union Buildings house the administration of the country and have also been the setting for all the presidential inaugurations of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. These sandstone buildings offer beautiful views over the city.

There is a lively culture in the city with a variety of museums, monuments, historical buildings and art centres. The Science and Technology Museum offers a tactile experience of science at work. The South African mint has a minting press dating back to 1892, which is still in operation. The city also offers township sleepovers with a five-star stay.

Church Square and the State Theatre often host international and national performances. There are also two nature reserves where visitors can view wildlife such as buffalo, antelope, cheetah, jackal, giraffe and sable.

History
The Ndebele people were the first people to settle along the Tshwane River, which was named after a Ndebele chief.

This would later become the site for Pretoria. In 1855, it became the first capital of the Zuid-Afrikaanche Republiek (ZAR), a territory claimed by the Dutch settlers in South Africa.

The Rivonia Treason Trial (1956-1961), which led to the prosecution of Nelson Mandela among others, was held in Pretoria. In 1994, the same accused would also be sworn into office as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Pretoria is now part of the Tshwane, which was established on 5 December 2000. It incorporates 13 previous local authorities including Pretoria, Centurion, Akasia and Soshanguve, and the surrounding areas of Mabopane, Atteridgeville, Ga-Rankuwa, Winterveld, Hammanskraal, Temba, Pienaarsrivier, Crocodile River and Mamelodi as one administrative entity.

Football
Tshwane/Pretoria has long been a city synonymous with top professional football in South Africa and the breeding ground for many of the country's top players. Arcadia and Berea Park were the city's first professional sides. In later years Mamelodi Sundowns, Mamelodi United, Pretoria City and SuperSport United have kept up the trend.Arcadia were triple winners in 1974 but it is Mamelodi Sundowns who have been the real pride of the city. They broke the Professional Soccer League record, winning the league five times in a row since 1988. Sundowns were also runners up in the 2001 CAF Champions League. They have been nicknamed 'the Brazilians' because of their blue and yellow kit.Pretoria University has the largest sports excellence school in the country. They also have the highest number of female football players, producing exceptionally strong women's teams.

4-Mangaung/Bloemfontein

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Mangaung/Bloemfontein's open spaces reflect the openness of its people - friendly, warm and quietly dignified. The city's citizens are a unique blend of rural tranquillity and vibrant city life.Located in the central interior of South Africa, Mangaung/Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of South Africa and the provincial capital of the Free State Province.The Appeal Court is the highest court in South Africa and is seated in the city. The regal stinkwood paneled courtroom was completed in 1929. The city hall is a magnificent sandstone building built by Sir Gordon Leith and the city has an inner game reserve.The Free State is bordered by four of South Africa's nine provinces and the country of Lesotho.The city has a wealth of culture and history, reflected by its rich architectural heritage, numerous museums and monuments.Mangaung/Bloemfontein is an excellent place to start discovering the Free State Province. The Golden Gate National Park in the eastern Free State has sandstone cliffs, which illuminate in gold hues when the sun strikes the exposed cliffs. The Vredefort Dome is the oldest impact crater in the world, dating back 2,023 million years and the expansive Gariep Dam is a local favourite among the landlocked people of the Free State and Gauteng.

History
Chief Yoruka and the Barolong tribe settled in the area around Thaba Nchu in the early 1830s. In the late 1800s the Free State became home to Chief Moshoeshoe and the Basotho tribe. The area became a safe haven for tribes fleeing Shaka Zulu.The Mangaung Local Municipality was formed at the end of 2000 by amalgamating the transitional local councils of Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu with two rural councils. It is the sixth largest city in South Africa and is also the Provincial capital of the Free State Province. Mangaung literally means "Place of the Cheetahs" in SeSotho, which is one of South Africa's 11 official languages.Although amalgamated under one city authority in 2000, Bloemfontein was initially founded by Dutch and English settlers in mid-1800s. Bloemfontein is rumoured to have been named after an abundance of roses which grew around a fountain on a farm owned by a Dutch settler (Voortrekker), Johannes Nicolaas Brit. Bloemfontein literally means 'fountain of flowers' in Dutch

Football
Football in Bloemfontein, was first played in 1891, when the territory was an independent Boer republic, known as the 'Oranje Vrij Staat'. Famous clubs like Aberdeen, Dundee United (both Scotland), Newcastle United (England), Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) played tour matches in the territory. Bloemfontein City played briefly as the first professional club of the city.Bloemfontein Celtic are the city's best known footballing product. The fans of Bloemfontien Celtic are renowned for their enthusiasm. The team's kit is very similar to the Scottish team Celtic, with green and white horizontal stripes.The Free State Stars finished at the top of the First Division in 2007, consequently earning a place in the top flight for the 2007/2008 season.The Free State Stadium was the setting for most of Group B's games during the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which was hosted by South Africa.

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