The Nelson Mandela statue on the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall is worth a visit and a good place to start a walk around the city on Mandela Day – with your mask on of course!
The Cape Town City Heritage Walk is curated by Fagmee Jacobs, who runs the Heritage Outreach and Education Projects in the City of Cape Town’s Heritage Department. The walk reflects the Mother City’s diverse heritage.
Former President Nelson Mandela is a global icon, but so much of his remarkable life story is tied to Cape Town and the Western Cape. When Nelson Mandela was awarded the Freedom of the City of Cape Town in 1997, he said that ‘Cape Town’s greatness lies not only in its contribution to our economy but in its involvement in our country’s history.’
It was on the balcony of the landmark building Cape Town City Hall, overlooking the Grand Parade and its crowd of excited well wishers, where the late President Nelson Mandela made his famous speech when he was released from prison in 1990.
To celebrate his life, his contribution to the country and his centenary, the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town unveiled a bronze statue of the great father of our nation at the City Hall on 24 July 2018. To read all about the event see the MapMyWay news blog.
The walk will take you to a monument to another Nobel Peace Prize Winner – the Arch for the Arch. The Arch, in honour of beloved Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, is strategically placed at the entrance to the Company Gardens and between the Houses of Parliament and St Georges Cathedral, highlighting the significant role the Arch played in both political and spiritual arenas.
Find out more about the Cape Town City Heritage Tour HERE and be tempted to take the walk with Curator Fagmee Jacobs as your virtual guide. A great outing on Mandela Day. ENJOY!Â
PHOTO: Bronze Nelson Mandela sculpture – Bruce Sutherland/CT
