Nandipha Dilla
In celebration of Freedom Day on 27 April, Perdeby has put together a guide of places to visit this month that highlight South Africa’s past and celebrate its freedom.
Mandela House
Where: Vilakazi Street, Soweto
Admission Fee: R40 for adults
Situated on South Africa’s most prominent street, Mandela House was late former president Nelson Mandela’s home bought years prior to his imprisonment on Robben Island in 1962. The home stands as a heritage site that shows the familial intricacies of the Mandela’s by giving visitors a glimpse into the married life of a lawyer with two children who vowed to die for the freedom of his people. Opening hours from 09:00 to 16:45.
Union Buildings
Where: Government Avenue, Pretoria
Admission Fee: Admission to the terraced gardens are free
As the official seat of the national government, the Union Buildings has played a key part in South Africa’s history. Although there is no entry into the actual building, the grounds and garden area are the perfect place for a light walk or even a picnic. One can also find historical moments such as the 9-meter tall bronze Nelson Mandela statue.
Freedom Park
Where: Salvokop, Pretoria
Admission Fee: Prices vary depending on which side of the park you are visiting
This heritage site was created to honour those who sacrificed their lives for a democratic South Africa. There is a 679-meter-long Wall of Names where the names of around 75 000 South Africans have been inscribed for their sacrifice in the anti-apartheid struggle. You can also find the Garden of Remembrance and the Hapo Museum.
Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial
Where: Orland West, Soweto
Admission Fee: R30 for adults
The Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial in Orlando West is not only dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1976 student uprising, but also commemorates the memory of all those who died or were injured on the 16th of June protesting the substandard educational system of the bantu child. The museum exhibits oral testimonies, pictures, audiovisual displays and historical documents relating to the events of 1976.
Apartheid Museum
Where: Gold Reef City, Ormonde
Admission Fee: R70 for students
Next door to South Africa’s premier amusement park, the Apartheid Museum shows the visitor what life was truly like for South Africans during apartheid through dramatic imagery, videos, press clips, personal artefacts and stories from the people who lived under the regime. The museum’s many exhibits depict race classifications and how they wreaked havoc on families with entrances that separate visitors by race bringing what life was like under apartheid to the forefront.
Image: Elmarie Kruger
