Virtual Tour of Mandela Monuments in KZN

In July we celebrate Mandela Month. There are many landmarks around Durban and KwaZulu-Natal that feature this icon. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown many of them are closed until after the lockdown has been lifted.

Take a virtual tour with us as we show you the many places where Nelson Mandela has featured in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal:

The Mandela Capture Site

The Nelson Mandela Sculpture at the Capture Site. | Image: SA Tourism

On 5 August 1962, on a road along the R103 near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, armed apartheid police flagged down a car in which Nelson Mandela was pretending to be the chauffeur.

It was at this spot that he was arrested and disappeared from public view for 27 years.

At this spot is an iconic sculpture which was unveiled in 2012 by the then President Jacob Zuma.

The location was made possible thanks to the Department of Co-Operative Government and Traditional Affairs which worked with uMgeni Municipality, the Apartheid Museum and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Council in association with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.

The sculpture was designed by artist Marco Cianfanelli and is made up of 50 steel column constructions – each between 6.5 and 9.5 metres tall – set in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands landscape.

The site was designed by architect Jeremy Rose.

‘’The 50 columns represent the 50 years since his capture, but they also suggest the idea of many making the whole; of solidarity,’’ says Cianfanelli of the sculpture.

When the lockdown has been lifted you can visit it here:

Address: Mandela Capture Site, R103, Howick, 3290

Telephone: 072-351-0967

You can take a virtual tour here: https://www.thecapturesite.co.za/virtual-tour

Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine

The entrance to the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine. | Image: Google

The school of medicine is in Umbilo in Durban and is part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It has been around for over 60 years and provides a high quality of training for medical students.

The medical school has a strong focus on rural health including a partnership with the local Department of Health which offers the students opportunities in rural health care.

The school has also produced internationally renowned scientists and research output.

Address: 719 Umbilo Road, Umbilo, Durban, 4001

Phone: 031-260-1111 | Website: https://www.ukzn.ac.za

The Nelson Mandela Postcards

The Nelson Mandela Postcards on display at Tourism Indaba 2018. | Image: Fred Felton

These postcards were shown to the public at the Tourism Indaba 2018 held at the International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. Delegates from the travel industry could see them on display and even take some home with them. They feature images of Nelson Mandela and highlights from his life. If you happen to have one hold on to them as they are quite the collector’s item.

The Struggle Icons

These statues were shown to the public at Africa's Travel Indaba in 2019 at the Durban International Convention Centre. They feature Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli. | Image: Fred Felton

Nelson Mandela officially opened the Durban International Convention Centre in 1997. It was later renamed to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex. It has held some of the biggest conferences and events in South Africa, Africa and the World. At the time when it was made it was one of the single largest investments made by the City of Durban.

During the lockdown the Durban Exhibition Centre which is part of the centre was used as a reception and screening centre for eThekwini Municipality as a response to sheltering the homeless during the lockdown.  The eThekwini Task Team on Homelessness identified varies sites for looking after the homeless of the City.

Durban ICC Chief Executive Officer, Lindiwe Rakharebe noted, ‘’The Durban ICC is committed to playing its part in and offering as much support as we can. Initially one-thousand people were expected to be screened at the centre; however we were able to help 1,600 people over the course of the first 3 days.’’

For more info visit: www.icc.co.za

The Ohlange Institute

The grave of John L. Dube at the Ohlange Institute. | Image: Fred Felton

This site is steeped in history and is certainly worth a visit when the lockdown is over. Here you will find the first school started by a black person, John Langalibalele Dube. He went on to become the first president of the African National Congress.

Nelson Mandela chose to cast his vote in the first democratic election of South Africa at the Ohlange Institute on April 27, 1994.

Address:  Off M25 Inanda Highway, Behind Ohlange Library, Inanda, 4310

For more information contact Durban Tourism on 031-322-4164

Email: info@visitdurban.travel

Date for your diary: The Anniversary of the Birthday of Nelson Mandela – 18 July 1918

We leave you with this quote from the great man:

‘’It always seems impossible until it’s done’’ – Nelson Mandela

This virtual tour of Nelson Mandela landmarks in Durban and KZN was brought to you courtesy of eThekwini Municipality.

For more info on how they look after your city visit: www.durban.gov.za