MANDELA HOUSE
8115 Orlando West Soweto
HISTORY
‘That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.’
Nelson Mandela, The Long Walk to Freedom, on his return to 8115 Orlando West after his release from prison in 1990.
The Mandela House at 8115 Orlando West, on the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane Streets, Soweto, was built in 1945, part of a Johannesburg City tender for new houses in Orlando. Nelson Mandela moved here in 1946 with his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, They divorced in 1957, and from 1958 he was joined in the house by his second wife, Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela (Winnie).
He was to spend little time here in the ensuing years, as his role in struggle activities became all-consuming and he was forced underground (1961), living a life on the run until his arrest and imprisonment in 1962.
Nelson Mandela returned here for a brief 11 days after his release from Robben Island in 1990, before finally moving to his present house in Houghton. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, herself imprisoned several times, lived in the house with her daughters while Nelson Mandela was in jail, until her own exile to Brandfort in 1977, where she remained under house arrest until 1986. The family continued to occupy the house until 1996, when the Mandelas divorced. The house was subsequently turned into a public heritage site, with Nelson Mandela as the Founder Trustee.
‘The house itself was identical to hundreds of others built on postage-stamp-size plots on dirt roads. It had the same standard tin roof, the same cement floor, a narrow kitchen, and a bucket toilet at the back. Although there were street lamps outside we used paraffin lamps as the homes were not yet electrified. The bedroom was so small that a double bed took up almost the entire floor space.’
‘It was the opposite of grand, but it was my first true home of my own and I was mightily proud. A man is not a man until he has a house of his own.’
Nelson Mandela, The Long Walk to Freedom
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and his family lived here from 1946 into the 1990’s. He donated the house to the Soweto Heritage Trust on
1 September 1997
On 16 March 1999, the National Monuments Council declared the property a national monument In terms of Government notice 126 as published in the Government Gazette no. 19719, February 1999.
CACHE POSITION
Due to the fact that there is a fee to enter the house, the cache is not hidden in the precincts of 8115 Vilakazi Street, but rather, at the next most obvious spot - "Mandela House" sign which is on the opposie side of the road to the actual house !?. NB!!:: There are always many visitors/muggles in and around this area and for this reason the small nano is hidden just inside the sign at the back left corner if you are facing the sign from the road. This exact descrpition is given to aid the geocacher to retrieve the cache without too much undue searching whilst being watched by the many muggles that frequent this spot. PLEASE DO NOT COMPROMISE THIS HIDING SPOT. Pretend to take a photo of the sign and surroundings whilst retrieving the cache. The nano can be spotted if you stand directly behind the sign, so please ensure you spot it before attempting to retrieve the nano. Please replace exactly as found using utmost stealth. Be very mindful that you are being watched . This nano has been replaced on numerous occasions do please be vigilant. Check the spoiler pic if you are not sure so you can retrieve quickly without undue sttengion.
CONGRATULATIONS TO DeonvN on being FTF on 16th June!