Constitution Hill’s new tours
JOBURG – If there’s one spot in Jozi where the story of South Africa’s turbulent past and its transition to democracy can be told, it’s at Constitution Hill, Braamfontein … and there just happens to be three new tours available.
ConHill is a national heritage site, as the home of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, and has always been open to the public for guided tours.
Recently, these tours have been revamped to offer so much more. Reuben Phasha, the Heritage, Education and Tourism manager, said the tours have been changed to provide a new and holistic experience to visitors. “We want visitors who have been here before to get a new experience, and a different understanding of the museum,” he said.
The site was once a place of injustice and brutality where South Africa’s leading political activists including Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Joe Slovo, Winnie Mandela, Fatima Meer, Mahatma Gandhi and more were detained. But now the site has been transformed into a place of solidarity and democracy. It is home to the Women’s Gaol museum, Number Four Museum and Old Fort Museum.
The new tours are the Walk with Madiba through Constitution Hill tour, where visitors are able to walk in Madiba’s footsteps, from his prison cell to his last interaction with the site after the dawn of democracy. This tour takes place every second Saturday from 11am to 12 noon.
The Time-travel Tour partners up with The Hill restaurant to give visitors a re-enactment of apartheid South Africa, and the treatment of prisoners behind the walls of Constitution Hill. This interactive experiential tour gives visitors a first-hand experience of life behind the cells. It takes place on the last Friday of the month and includes a lunch at The Hill Café.
Last, but certainly not least,is the Night Tour, which allows visitors to walk through ConHill and learn about the history of the site. “The tour offering is quite unique from the others because it is an interactive tour. You get the opportunity to walk in the shoes of the prisoners and experience what life was during their imprisonment. It brings a more realistic approach to the tour experience,” Phasha said, adding that this particular tour had received great reviews from those who have taken it.
Another perk is that, starting from June this year, free-admission months will be on offer to celebrate national and international holidays such as International Museums Day, Youth Month and more.
Booking for tours is essential.
Details: www.constitutionhill.org.za
