“They told you that your life was over beyond this gate.” Nolundi Ntamo. Pass offender. (1980)
Constitution Hill is a historic site in Johannesburg, renowned for its significance in the country's struggle for democracy. This iconic location once housed a notorious prison where political activists, including Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated during apartheid. Today, it serves as a symbol of South Africa's journey to freedom and democracy, featuring a museum, art installations, and a court complex.
I’m embarrassed to admit this but even though it’s just a 10 minute drive away from my house, it took me a long while to visit Constitution Hill for the first time. My visit ended up co-inciding with Women’s month – during which all women were given free entrance and a free tour.
Pass book - Apartheid South Africa
The GPS led us to one of the Constitution Hill’s parking lots. But thereafter it took us 10 minutes and lots of asking for directions before we found the correct entrance in the huge complex. It’s right next to the colourful Constitutional Court, by the way.
Women's Gaol
We were shown to a screening room where an orientation video introducing Constitution Hill and its history was on replay. The Old Fort was built by Paul Kruger in 1892/3. Subsequently it was used as a notorious prison where many of the inmates were arrested for offences like contravening pass laws and the Group Areas Act although there were also common criminals amongst them. Some of the notable prisoners that were held there include Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Albertina Sisulu and Fatima Meer. White inmates were kept in the Old Fort, and black inmates in Section Four and Five. The women’s (gaol) jail was added in 1909.
Sculptures at ConstitutionHill
The Old Fort became a National Monument in 1964 and the new Constitutional Court was built at this site much later.
Our guide David introduced himself and began the tour. The complex was a hive of activity as there were Women’s Month functions and school excursions underway.
The eternal flame of democracy burns in the courtyard. It was lit in 2011 by Nelson Mandela at his Eastern Cape home, and the flame passed through the hands of all the judges before it touched the bowl.
Flame of Democracy
We were first taken to the non-White Women’s Gaol. Here we heard chilling stories about the humiliating and degrading conditions these women were kept under and the ruthless manner in which they were treated. They were routinely stripped of their clothes …and their dignity. Enlarged paintings about their conditions that were drawn and illegally smuggled out by Fatima Meer during her imprisonment were on display. There are also videos by former prisoners about their experiences as well as personal items belonging to them. The price of our freedom was high indeed and my admiration for these struggle heroines grew even more. I don’t think that I have a fraction of the strength they had.
White women were kept in separate quarters under much better conditions and we saw those too.
There was a notorious clinic on the premises where the apartheid doctors would often abort babies from pregnant women then tell them that they were never pregnant. Hundreds of other children were born here and spent the first few years of their lives here.
Blanket Exhibit
We were then led to the non-white men’s prisons where exhibits displayed the cramped sleeping conditions of the prisoners, the inhumane manner in which food was allocated to prisoners based on their race and the torture instruments used on prisoners.
Other exhibits showed the blanket sculptures prisoners made on inspection days –often to keep themselves sane - and a collection of Gandhi memorabilia.
Gandhi Exhibits
We saw the tiny isolation cells where prisoners were kept for several days at a time and given only rice water. Many lost their sanity. I had goose bumps from listening to these appalling stories of dehumanisation.
Isolation Cells
Our tour ended with a visit to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in the land. The exterior is adorned with the words “Constitutional Court” in bright colours and in all 11 official languages. The beautifully carved doors to the court building are nine metres high and feature the 27 fundamental themes of the Bill of Rights in all official languages, plus sign language.
Constitutional Court
The tour took around two hours. It was a deeply moving visit and my only regret is not having gone there earlier.
For more information, visit Constitution Hill.
Good to know
Constitution Hill is one of the stops on the City Sightseeing Johannesburg Bus tour.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
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