"Mangawung", the Tswana name for Bloemfontein, means "place of the cheetahs" - a reminder of the wilderness, which existed before farmers tamed the highveld plains where the city stands today. For a long time, it remained a tranquil agricultural settlement, but in recent years, Bloemfontein has developed into a prosperous commercial and industrial city - the capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. Bloemfontein is affectionately known among locals as the “City of Roses”. This friendly, peaceful and clean environment lies at the heart of South Africa where the country’s main road, rail and air links meet.