Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill is a museum in Johannesburg that houses multiple prison complexes, an old military fort, and the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

The first prison on the site was commissioned in 1892 by Paul Kruger, the President of the South African Republic. In 1896, construction began on a military fort, now called the Old Fort. Upon completion in 1899, the Old Fort served as a prison for white prisoners, particularly Boers and Boer-sympathizers, after Johannesburg surrendered to the British in the South African War of 1900. By 1904, the prison population had doubled, and a new prison called “Number Four” was opened, primarily to accommodate black male prisoners. Prisoners were held in large communal cells under abhorrent conditions that continued until the prison was finally closed down in 1983. In 1910, construction began on a separate prison called “The Women’s Jail,” for women prisoners.

The three prisons at Constitution Hill, the Old Fort, the Women’s Jail, and Number Four, have held within their walls some of the world’s most renowned figures including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Albertina Sisulu, Madikizela (Winnie) Mandela, Robert Sobukwe (the founder of the Pan Africanist Congress) and Albert Luthuli (a former president of the African National Congress). There is an exhibit on-site about the time spent by both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in the prison. Visitors can also see the cell in the Old Fort, where Nelson Mandela was held.

On 21 March 2004, 10 years after South Africa became a democracy, the Constitutional Court of South Africa was inaugurated at Constitution Hill. The site was specifically chosen to serve as a reminder of the transition South Africa made from violating to protecting fundamental human rights. Visitors can take a tour of the court, and learn about its role in changing the face of South Africa.

Constitution Hill

Map

Add to favorite

Create new board

Add to current board

Add to favorite

Delete from favorite

Add to favorite