Johannesburg

Attractions on Johannesburg Tours

Vilakazi Street Soweto

Vilakazi street is situated in Soweto, Johannesburg. Vilakazi street is believed to be the most famous street in Soweto South Africa. Vilakazi street is believed to be the most famous street in Soweto Tours South Africa.
It is famously so because it was once home to two Nobel prize winners, His Excellency the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and the late Reverend Desmond Tutu. It is also in this street where Hector Pieterson a 13-year-old boy was shot dead in the riots on the 16th of June 1976.
Another interesting fact is that in 1955 the South African freedom charter was signed in Vilakazi Street. The Street is named after the late Dr Benedict Wallet Vilakazi in honour and respect of Dr Vilakazi’s Achievements and his legacy. Dr Benedict Wallet Vilakazi was born in 1906 Groutville KwaZulu Natal and died in 1947 Johannesburg
Dr Benedict Wallet Vilakazi was an author of novels and poems and a lecturer.
He is famously known for his works in novels like Nje Nempela released in 1933 and others like Noma nini, poetry like Inkonlo kazulu released in 1935.
In 1936 together with linguist C.M Doke the helped develop a Zulu to English dictionary, and many more. Some of his poetry also explored the exploitation and discrimination of the black South Africans
As an educator he lectured in Witwatersrand university in the bantu studies department. It is said that he worked as an assistant to linguist C.M Doke in 1934. It is also believed that he was the first black South African to lecture white South Africans. Eventually he lectured as a senior lecture at Witwatersrand.
In 1938 He was also rewarded with an M.A by Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg.
Dr Benedict Wallet Vilakazi was believed to be the first Black South African to be awarded with a doctorate in 1946 which he earned from his works in the Zulu and Khosa Languages.
Vilakazi street has drawn a lot of interest and attraction both nationally and internationally and this has brought about entrepreneurial ventures such as restaurants and Curios shops.
One such business venture is the famous Sakhumzi restaurant one of the many restaurants that started due to the historic nature of Vilakazi street.
Sakhumzi restaurant was the first restaurant to be established in 2001 in Vilakazi street. You can get to see this great attraction when you book a Pretoria, Soweto and Apartheid Museum Tour or a Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum Tour. Both Tours depart from Johannesburg and Pretoria
Sakhumzi restaurant was established by Mr Sakhumzi Maqubela. The inspiration of Starting the venture was brought about by friends and family who gathered to share stories about their history and goals they had and a meal which Mr Sakhumzi would share with them.
His Excellency the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela donated his home on the 1st sept 1999 to his founded trust the Soweto heritage trust to become a museum. In 1999 his excellency the late Nelson Mandela’s home was declared a national heritage site which is now known as Mandela House Museum.
This declaration brought made Mandela’s house a tourist attraction which also is part of Soweto Tours.
Due to the tourist from across the globe visiting Vilakazi street other business opportunities rose and created job opportunities for the local community, like street vendors selling curios just outside of Mandela House Museum.

Mandela House Museum

8115 Corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane street Soweto is not just an ordinary address, but it was once a home to his excellency the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. These is the house that is famously known as Mandela House Museum
It is believed to have been built in 1945. The house was a simple house built with red bricks and cement floor and a roof made of tin commonly referred to as “matchbox”. The house had two tiny bedrooms which Mandela had said that a double bed filled up almost their whole bedroom. It had a tiny kitchen and a bucket bathroom.
Nelson Mandela only moved into this house in 1947 with his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase. Nelson Mandela planted a family tree in their yard where they buried their children’s umbilical cord as practiced in his culture.
Evelyn Ntoko Mase, was a trained nurse together with Nelson Mandela they had four children, their first child a son Thembekile was born in 1946 and later died in a car crush in 1969 at only 23 years of age, their second child was a daughter Makaziwe born in 1947 who died 9 months later due meningitis. Mandela and Evelyn had another child a son in 1950 Makgatho Lewanika who later in 2005 at age 54 due complication of HIV/AIDS. In 1953 Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase had their 4th born a daughter whom Mandela named Makaziwe Phumla in honour of their second daughter.
Nelson Mandela and first wife Evelyn Mase were married in 1944 and later divorced in 1958 they were only married for 14yrs. Reasons that led to their divorce was because Mandela was becoming more involved in the political activism in the 1950’s and Evelyn’s got more involved with the Jehovah witness religion which was a constant conflict between the two parties and in return put a strain in their marriage.
In 1958 Nelson Mandela married Winnie Madikizela Mandela his second wife. Winfried Madikizela Mandela she was only 22 years of age and Mandela was 18 years her senior when they got married. Winnie was a qualified social worker.
The couple moved into 8115 corner of Vilakazi Orlando West house that same year. Together they had two daughters Zenani who was born shortly after their wedding in 1958.Two years later in 1960 Their second daughter Zindziwa was born.
Mandela did not spend much of his time with his young family, as he became more and more deeply involved with the struggle against the Apartheid government. In 1963 Mandela was arrested and imprisoned. At the Rivonia trial he was accused of sabotage and treason and sentenced to life. This meant that Winnie Madikizela Mandela had to become his public face for the 27 years that Mandela spent in prison. During the years that Mandela was imprisoned Winnie lead a domestic anti-apartheid movement as a result she was constantly harassed by the apartheid police, they would fire gun shots at their home which is evident with the original bullet holes found on some of the walls in their home. Because of this constant attacks Winnie built a wall in her leaving room where they would seek refuge whenever they got attacked. On several occasions between (1962-1986) Winnie Mandela got arrested, tortured during such times the girls were left alone at their home. At one point Winnie ended up being banished out of Johannesburg and sent to Brandfort.
In 1988 Mandela house burnt down to the ground by high school students of Soweto due conflicts brought about by Mandela united football club (MUFC) but the community helped rebuild it.
On the1st sept 1999 His Excellency the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela donated his home 8115 corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane street Soweto, to his founded trust the Soweto heritage trust to become the Mandela House Museum. Africa Moja Tours offers a Private Half Day Soweto Tour which covers this attraction in Soweto and other famous attractions like Orlando Towers and Hector Pieterson Museum.

Constitutional Hill

Constitution Hill is a National Heritage Site proclaimed on 10 March 2017, and a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy and reflects the history of Johannesburg. Nowhere can the story of South Africa’s past and its extraordinary transition to democracy be told as it can be told at Constitution Hill.

A walk through the various sites at Constitution Hill is a walk-through South Africa’s history from the pain of the past to the hope of a strong democratic future that is still under construction. While these sites witnessed so many abuses, they were also the place where many sacrificed their own freedom for the democratic rights in our Constitution.

The sites date to 1893, when the doors to the Old Fort built by President Paul Kruger in 1893 first opened as a prison for white men. Later it was turned into a military fort. In the early 20th century, more prison sections were added to the site, including a section for black male prisoners, known as Number Four and Number five, a Women’s jail, and an Awaiting Trial Block.
The prison section generally known as Number four comprises sections four and five of the Old Fort prison complexes. Black men and boys were imprisoned mostly for contravening segregation and apartheid laws to these communal cells that were extreme overcrowded and were subjected to diseases, indignities, and intimidation gangs famously known as Nongoloza.

Former political prisoners that were held at Number four includes Indian Civil Rights Activists Mahatma Ghandi, and former African National Congress President Albert Luthuli.

In 1910, women’s jail was built. The jail accommodated both black and white female but separately. Women were arrested for brewing beers, cooking and selling food because these deemed as illegal activities, many women were arrested with their children. In 1958, 2000 women were arrested for protesting for the pass laws. Women like male prisoners were also subjected to indignities, they were not provided with sanitary pads, they had to bath outside communal outdoor with running cold water which were visible to surrounding Johannesburg’s nearby office blocks.
The political females who were imprisoned in women’s jail include Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, and many political activists.

During awaiting trial block, thousands of people passed through this prison. In 2001, the building was demolished to make way for the new constitutional court, but staircases were kept. Bricks from this building was incorporated into the constitutional court as a constant reminder of site’s history.

The Judges of the Constitutional Court chose the site of the Old Fort Prison complex as the Court’s new home to symbolise how the pain and terrible suffering of the past could be transformed into hope for the future. In 2004, the Constitutional Court and Constitution Hill were opened to public as a museum focused on Heritage, Education and Tourism.
Our Johannesburg, Soweto and Apartheid Museum gives an opportunity to visit this tourist attraction and it allows us to fully understand the history on guided tour. Another Johannesburg Tour that focuses on this tour is the Private Constitutional hill and Apartheid Museum Tour.

Name *

First

Last

Provide your country *

Phone number *

Email *

Date of Travel *

Number of Adults *

Number of Children *

Message

Submit