Pietersburg, city in northern South Africa, capital of Northern Province. Situated on the Sterkloop River, 240 km (150 mi) from the border with Zimbabwe, Pietersburg is the largest city in Northern Province. In addition to serving as the seat of the provincial government, Pietersburg is the commercial hub for ranching and farming activities in the area and acts as an important railway center for trade with Zimbabwe. The city is also the site of a major military base. Pietersburg is connected to Johannesburg and Pretoria in the south and to Harare, Zimbabwe, in the north by a major highway and railway. Pietersburg has an airport, which has scheduled flights to and from Johannesburg. The University of the North (Turfloop), founded in 1959, is located at Sovenga, to the east of Pietersburg. Zion City, the headquarters of the Zion Christian Church, is at the nearby town of Moria, where more than 3 million people congregate annually for Easter services. South of Pietersburg is the Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum, which is devoted to African culture.
Established in 1884 as a magistrate's seat for the South African Republic, an Afrikaner state, Pietersburg was named after Petrus (Piet) Joubert, the commandant general for the area. Population (1991) 39,011.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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