5 Important facts about the Nelson Mandela Capture Site
5 Important facts about the Nelson Mandela Capture Site
It’s a silent walk despite the builders working nearby and the road ahead. The sun blares and the walk seems long. But it’s not. It’s nothing compared to Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom.
On 5 August 1962, armed apartheid police flagged down a car in which Nelson Mandela was pretending to be the chauffeur, on his way to visit good friend and advisor, president Chief Albert Luthuli. Here, in this unassuming and peaceful countryside, Mandela was finally captured.
The spot is now marked with what has become one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most visited tourist attractions; a powerful sculpture at the end of a long walk.
The Nelson Mandela Capture Site’s unique sculpture was unveiled 48 years after the arrest and comprises of 50 steel columns, each between 6.5 and 9.5 metres tall, set into the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands landscape.
The extraordinary sculpture, designed by artist Marco Cianfanelli, reveals itself at around 35 metres away from the steel beams, down the path. At this distance, a portrait of Nelson Mandela comes into focus as the 50 linear beams line up to create the illusion of a flat image.
The international icon passed away 51 years later after his arrest, on 5 December 2013.
5 Important facts about the Nelson Mandela Capture Site:
1. The 50 columns used in the sculpture represent the 50 years since Mandela’s capture.
2. A self-guided Apartheid Museum has been established on the property and tells the story of Mandela’s life and struggle to a free country.
3. The actual capture site is across the road and is marked with an additional five smaller columns. But the portrait of Mandela can only be seen down the long path across the road.
4. A multi-purpose conference centre is being built on the property and talks of an underground tunnel leading to the actual capture site across the road, are underway.
5. The sculpture is affected by the surrounding landscape , visually shifting throughout the day.
Entrance to The Capture Site is free although a donation is appreciated. There is also a small curio shop, restaurant and beading exhibition on display.
How to get there:
Take the N3 highway to Durban / Johannesburg. Take the Tweedie turnoff to Lions River. Turn right onto the R103. The sculpture is 5 minutes from the N3 turnoff and is well signposted.
