Giving back on Nelson Mandela Day

HHere are three things your clients can do in South Africa to learn more about Nelson Mandela, and the struggle for equality:

Mandela House:

Built in 1945, Mandela house was commissioned as part of a development in Soweto. Whilst tiny in structure, its testimony of truth on the family’s immense struggles for a free South Africa is large.

The house was ready in 1946 to receive Mandela and his first wife. While Mandela’s years from this point on were to become more deeply absorbed into struggle activities with little time at home, it is his second wife, Winnie who became publicly subjected to harassment, torture and imprisonment.

11 years later, on 16 March 1999, the house was awarded the status of a public heritage site, with Nelson Mandela as the Founder Trustee.

Situated on the legendary Vilakazi Street and based in the world’s most famous township Soweto, accolades run the length of the street. It is home to TWO Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Mandela House Museum welcomes visitors from all around the world, while Archbishop Tutu still has a home here and is said to take a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood when he is around. The street also memorialises Hector Pietersen who was killed by police in the 1976 student uprising, who became an international icon in the fight against the Apartheid government.

CCapture Site:

Nelson Mandela was arrested on 5 August 1962 outside Howick, Natal, South Africa. He spent the next 27 years of his life in prison. The Nelson Mandela Capture Site commemorates this moment in history with a visitor centre and a world renowned sculpture.

In 1962, this otherwise ordinary piece of road along the R103 suddenly took on profound consequence. Armed apartheid police flagged down a car in which Nelson Mandela was pretending to be the chauffeur. Having succeeded in evading capture by apartheid operatives for 17 months. It was in this dramatic way, at this unassuming spot, that Nelson Mandela was finally captured and arrested.

The genesis of the project at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and the installation of the sculpture in the Natal Midlands landscape, is a response to the modest monument along the R103 consisting of a plaque set into a face-brick wall.

RRobben Island:

Only a 30 minute boat ride from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Robben Island is a symbol of the Old South Africa for all to see.

Your clients will spend time understanding the history and the ecology of the island, before taking a tour of the old prison facilities, including visiting Nelson Mandela’s cell. To understand the gravity of the situation the tour guides are often former political inmates, giving a first-hand account on what it was like to be incarcerated for your political beliefs. A truly moving experience.

What will you do for the next International Nelson Mandela Day?

CComment on out Nelson Mandela Facebook post to win an awesome South African goodie bag!