Celebrate Madiba’s Legacy During His Birthday Month by Tracing His Footsteps in Joburg 16 July 2021
16 July 2021

As part of the #Welcome to Joburg – A City Reimagined campaign, Joburg Tourism encourages visitors and residents to remember, reflect on and celebrate Madiba’s legacy during his birth month of July.

Among the abundance of heritage sites which Joburg boasts, many of these relate to the Struggle History – and more specifically to Nelson Mandela himself and the pivotal role he played in the country’s road to democracy. Joburg Tourism has curated these touchpoints into an itinerary entitled “In Mandela’s Footsteps” for people to enjoy visiting and exploring.

Born on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo, Eastern Cape, Madiba’s influence in Joburg spans decades – from 1941 when he arrived here as a young man to 2013, when he passed away in Houghton, having achieved the status of a revered elder statesman and global icon.

Most recently, Mandela’s former presidential home in Houghton has been refurbished and converted into a nine room boutique hotel (with capacity for 18 guests), called Sanctuary Mandela. Due to open its doors on 1 August 2021, the Sanctuary Mandela is expected to cater to world leaders, those who aspire to the values and qualities espoused by Madiba himself. Of the former Mandela homes which are accessible to the public, this is the only one which is not a museum.