Flights of Freedom
2014 marks the 20th anniversary since all South Africans were free to cast their votes for the first time, and what better way to celebrate this hard won freedom than a trip to the Mother City?
A Symbol of Freedom“Cape Town has always been important in the struggle for freedom,” says Cape Town Tourism Executive for Marketing, Velma Corcoran. “We encourage Capetonians and visitors to celebrate how far we have come as a country and as a city. Take a walk past the City Hall and stop under the balcony to reflect on the words of Madiba’s post release speech; pay a visit to the District Six Museum, followed by a stroll through the vibrant Fringe District; or head to Langa to spend some time in the Pass Museum understanding what life was like for so many South Africans. When you are driving along Helen Suzman Boulevard or Robert Sobukwe Avenue, take a moment to ponder the role our struggle icons played in giving us the freedom we have today. Twenty years after apartheid, Cape Town is a liberal African city that welcomes anyone and everyone wanting to experience our diversity of offerings.”
Continuous Transformation
It is also a city that is still wrestling with the legacy of apartheid, particularly in the stubborn existence of both a socio-economic and spatial divide. It was in the face of this challenge that Cape Town won the bid to become World Design Capital 2014, forming part of a broader vision to position Cape Town as a leading global city – a hub of creativity, knowledge, innovation and excellence – and to acknowledge that the city is using design thinking as a tool for transformation, by focusing strongly on socially responsive design.
Visitors to Cape Town can be part of this ongoing transformation by contributing of their time and signing up for any number of volunteer programmes. These range from building houses to reading to children.
Navigating Freedom in Cape Town
Cape Town is the **New York Times**’ Number One Destination to visit in 2014, and visitors and locals alike have a number of ways to explore the footprints of the journey to democracy.
Cape Town harbours some famous sites, including the world renowned Robben Island Museum, The District Six Museum, St George's Cathedral and Cape Town City Hall. Lesser known sites like the Nobel Laureates statue in the V&A Waterfront and the Langa Pass Museum are also must-sees.
South African Tourism’s recently launched “Madiba’s Journey” is an interactive map where you can literally follow the footsteps of this extraordinary man around the country.
In Cape Town many street names honour the memory of notable struggle icons, while township tours are a great way to see and experience the Mother City via coach, bicycle or on a walking tour.
“Cape Town is, in itself, the expression of its freedom. The street art, music, dance and design that epitomises the city is perhaps the greatest acknowledgement of its liberation. Soak it up at coffee shops, in art galleries, in the parks, on campuses, and the pavements of the city streets,” says Corcoran.
<Sidebar> Freedom Attractions
Cape Town boasts a number of special sites which speak to the country’s heritage and its path to ultimate freedom.
· The City Hall and Grand Parade were where a crowd gathered to see and hear from the newly released Nelson Mandela on 11th February 1990. Mandela stood on the small balcony of the Cape Town City Hall and delivered his address calling for all of South African society to end apartheid. 250,000 people streamed onto the Grand Parade to celebrate the release of the country’s future president.· The Nobel Peace Laureates statues at Nobel Square in the V&A Waterfront are a tribute to South Africa’ s four Nobel Peace prize laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. The sculptor is Cape Town artist Claudette Schreuders.
· Once “home” to some of South Africa’s most famous political prisoners, including
· Formerly known as Victor Verster Prison, Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl is where Nelson Mandela spent his final months of imprisonment. In Nelson Mandela’s honour, Drakenstein Correctional Centre houses outreach exhibitions and a bronze statue of the former president at the Mandela House Museum.
· Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic landmark. Former President Nelson Mandela said in 1998: “During the many years of incarceration on Robben Island, we often looked across Table Bay at the magnificent silhouette of Table Mountain. To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.”
· Nelson Mandela routinely appeared in Parliament as the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. It was here, in February 1990, that Former President FW De Klerk announced the release of Nelson Mandela. Former President Nelson Mandela made his first and last State of the Nation addresses in the National Assembly at Parliament.
· St. George’s Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in South Africa. It played a key role in the resistance against apartheid by hosting peaceful demonstrations and mass protests, and has always welcomed all races. In 1989 more than 30,000 people from all walks of life were led from St. George's Cathedral to the Grand Parade in a mass anti-apartheid demonstration. It’s most famous, and most vocal, leader was Archbishop Desmond Tutu.· The District Six Museumrevives the history of a vibrant community that was forcibly removed to the city’s periphery during apartheid. This heart-breaking story is also one of rich cultural tradition that has survived against the odds.
· The Langa Cultural Heritage Precinct is a heritage site in Langa Township and is made up of the Guga S’thebe cultural centre, the Old Pass Office Museum and the old Post Office building. Here visitors can buy from local crafters and explore.
· The University of Cape Town(UCT) is the oldest university in South Africa. During the apartheid era UCT students regularly opposed apartheid both academically and physically, through student demonstrations, protests, and academic challenges.
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