ConHill pays tribute to Mandela
JOBURG - Constitution Hill paid homage to former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela at 2pm on Friday, 6 December.
South Africa is confronted with the sad news that its first democratically elected president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has passed on.
Petal Thring, CEO of Constitution Hill said, “We join all South Africans in celebrating the life of this giant, who courageously lived his life to service others. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”
She added, “This global icon, who dedicated his life to fighting the injustice of apartheid, lived an exemplary life defending human rights and striving for freedom for all. Madiba’s legacy lives on and it is through his work and tireless struggles that we will celebrate him.”
She emphasised that while in mourning, it was important that all South Africans remember the freedom they enjoy today and the wealth of memorial sites and living projects they possess to keep his legacy alive.
“Our late President has a history that spans over 55 years with Constitution Hill, that began in 1956 when he was incarcerated in the Awaiting Trial Block for the 1956 Treason Trial as one of the 156 Treason Trialists,” said Thring.
She added, “In 1958 Mr Mandela and O.R. Tambo represented the hundreds of members of the ANC Women’s League that were incarcerated for participating in a march to protest against extending the passes to women. In 1962 Tata spent two periods incarcerated in the Old Fort, held in a hospital cell. It is this section that today holds a permanent exhibition ‘Prisoner Working in the Garden’ about the life of Mr Mandela.”
Thring recalled when the late President revisited the site in 1995 for the Inauguration of the Constitutional Court.
“The site that was once a place of torture for him and his comrades was now to become a gem that stood firm as the home of South Africa’s Constitutional Court; the custodian of the Constitution,” she said.
Thring continued, “Today, Constitution Hill is home to the Flame of Democracy which was ignited by the late President at his Qunu home in 2012 on the 15th anniversary of our Constitution. It is with from this light that we will ignite a taper and carry it to the Mandela Cell to light a candle as a symbolic gesture to pay homage to this fallen giant. The candle will be kept in the Mandela Cell in honour of our great icon.”
