The son of the famous Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius (17 September 1819 – 19 May 1901) was the first president of the South African Republic, and also compiled the constitution of the Republic.
After the death of his father in 1853, he was appointed as the Commandant-General of the ZAR (South African Republic) and moved from his farm Kalkheuwel, near Broederstroom, to the city of Potchefstroom. He was the last Head of State of Potchefstroom between 1853 and 1856. He was a "descendant of two East Indian slave women, Catharina van Bengale, and Helena van Malabar.
Read more about Marthinus Wessel Pretorius: Founding of The City of Pretoria, Multiple Roles As Head of State