On 5 August 1962, Nelson Mandela was captured by the South African Police on the R103 about 5km outside the town of Howick in the Natal Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Mandela was posing as a chauffeur after a clandestine visit to ANC leader, Albert Luthuli to request support for an armed struggle. He had managed to evade capture for 17 months.
This unassuming spot has now become a memorial to the great man. The Apartheid Museum was responsible for bringing the project to fruition after purchasing the farm on which the memorial has been sited and employing the creative talents of Marco Cianfanelli and Jeremy Rose of Mashabane Rose Architects. Culture Mechanics curated this interactive project.
There is an exhibition of Mandela’s life and capture. Apart from the very interesting sculpture depicting Mandela’s image and his long walk to freedom, the Apartheid Museum, the uMngeni Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Council, have established the Truth Café and the Truth Store at the site and free tours are offered. The internationally recognized Impumulelo Bead Artists are also located here. They have produced commissioned works for the Museum of Art, New York, the Malmo Museum in Sweden and the Johannesburg Art Gallery and their outstanding beadwork is on sale at the site.
Tel: +27 (0)82 895 1042 or +27 (0)83 227 2376 Email Website
Getting there: take the old Main Road R103 from Howick to Lions River. Turn off at the Howick North/Tweedie junction.
| More info on the town of Lions River | More info on the Natal Midlands area |
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