JOHANNESBURG, Dec 10 — To better understand the scope of Nelson Mandela’s legacy in South Africa, the country’s tourism office has released a list of attractions that traces his life as a political prisoner, husband, father and anti-apartheid crusader.
Here are a few major landmarks connected to the revolutionary leader’s life in South Africa:
Robben Island
At times a leper colony and mental hospital, Robben Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site after having incarcerated several anti-apartheid activists including Mandela, who spent 18 years locked in a cell here, where he formed many of his political ideas. Ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway in Cape Town.
Mandela House Museum, Soweto
Get a glimpse into Mandela’s private home life at 8115 Vilakazi Street, where Mandela lived with his first wife Winnie and their two children between 1946 and 1962. It’s also the home he returned to following his release from prison.
The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre, Qunu
Visit the remains of Mandela’s primary school, the rock he used to slide down as a child, and the graveyard where his parents, son and daughter are buried. Qunu remains a traditional, rural village.
Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, Johannesburg
Created by local artists Jacob Maponyane and Kobus Hattingh, the Mandela statue stands six meters tall and offers plenty of photo opportunities. The statue was commissioned in July 2002 and completed in 2004.
Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
Many of South Africa’s political activists including Mahatma Gandhi, Walter Sisulu and Mandela were detained here. The museum section includes the Mandela Cell, which features a documentary of his incarceration. It is now the home of the South African Constitutional Court. — AFP/Relaxnews
