The Union Buildings are situated on Meintjies Kop, Pretoria, and form the official seat of the South African government. They contain the offices of the President of South Africa. They are probably best remembered as the place where South Africa's first democratically-elected president, Nelson Mandela, was inaugurated in May 1994. City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... The President of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africas Constitution. ... Jump to: navigation, search Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, (born July 18, 1918), was the first democratically elected President of South Africa, having previously been a prominent anti-apartheid activist there. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

These buildings, built from light sandstone, were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker in the English monumental style and are 275 m long. They have a half-round shape, with the two wings at the sides, this can serve to represent the union of formally divided people (see the talk page) Jump to: navigation, search Red Sandstone in Wyoming Sandstone near Stadtroda, Germany Sandstone is an sedimentary rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz and varies in colour (in a similar way to sand), through grey, yellow, red, and white. ...

The cornerstone was laid in November 1910, shortly after the Union of South Africa — for which the buildings are named — was formed. Taking 1,265 workers over three years to build, the structure was completed in 1913 at a total cost of £1,310,640 for the building and £350,000 for the site. Cornerstone has several possible meanings and uses: A cornerstone is an important cultural component of western architecture, often indicating a building time and significant builders, enscribed on the stone. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... National motto: Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Official languages Afrikaans, English. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

Also notable are the gardens, planted exclusively with indigenous plants, surrounding the buildings as well as the 9,000 seat amphitheatre. The word indigenous is an adjective derived from the Latin word indigena, meaning native, belonging to, aboriginal; and has several applications: Indigenous peoples, communities and cultures native or indigenous to a territory; Indigenous (band), the Native American blues-rock band; In biology, indigenous means native to a place or biota... The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. ...