The City Hall in Cape Town is where Nelson Mandela first addressed the world upon his release from prison on 11 February 1990 after 27 years of incarceration. This was a huge event in the history of South Africa.
[Photo: Chris Ledochowski]
Flanked by his wife Winnie and leaders of the lately unbanned African National Congress (ANC) he stood on this balcony to speak to the thousands of followers and international media crowded below on the Grand Parade.
The potentially volatile situation drew a heavy police presence as helicopters circled overhead but the occasion unfolded peacefully. The first free election of April 1994 under the new Constitution saw the ANC emerge as the ruling party.
At this very spot now stands a slightly taller than life 1.95m bronze statue of Nelson Mandela. In his hand can be seen part of the speech he made that day.
Nelson Mandela appeared here again on 9th May 1994 to address the crowds as the first democratically elected president of South Africa the day before he was sworn in at a formal ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria beamed across the world.
The statue was unveiled on 24th July 2018 which would have been Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday.
The public is normally allowed onto the balcony to see the statue close up. The City Hall has however been the temporary seat of parliament since a fire gutted the National Assembly building in 2021 and if parliament is in session there may be restricted access.
Take this opportunity to do the Earth Cache: Mother City Limestone Xenolith GC610YF and learn more about this beautiful historic building.
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Take a photo of yourself or something showing your caching name with the statue of Nelson Mandela. Post this with your log.
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