Old Fort Prison and the new Constitutional Court Complex
Johannesburg's "Robben Island"
History:
Constitution hill was formerly the site of a fort, which was built on the Braamfontein ridge by Paul Kruger in 1893 for military use and was later used as a prison. The Fort is one of the oldest buildings in Johannesburg. The original prison was built to house white male prisoners in 1892. Boer military leaders of the Anglo-Boer War were imprisoned here by the British.
The Old Fort Prison was later extended to include "native" cells, called Section 4 and Section 5, and in 1910 a women's section was added. The Old Fort complex is now known as Number Four. An awaiting-trial block was constructed in the 1920s. Both political activists opposed to apartheid and common criminals were held at the prison.
Under the apartheid government, only whites were held in the Old Fort itself, except for Nelson Mandela, who was given a bed in the hospital section when he was as an awaiting-trial prisoner in 1962 prior to the Rivonia Trial. Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Slovo, Bram Fischer, Albert Luthuli and Robert Sobukwewas also imprisoned here.
Nelson Mandela entered the prison as Lawyer, Prisoner and later as the President of South Africa.
Mahatma Gandhi was the first to apply the concept of non-violent Civil disobedience in South Africa.This saw him face the hard realities of racial discrimination in South Africa.
Prisoners where often sent to Robben island or Pretoria Central Prison after sentencing. The site housed prisoners until 1983, when it was closed. The complex attained national heritage status after 1994. In 1995, the Constitutional Court justices began looking for a permanent location for the new Court. Constitution Hill was chosen as a fitting location for the Constitutional Court.
Old fort:
Ramparts built by Paul Kruger between 1896 and 1899 to protect the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) from the threat of invasion from the British. Also used to keep an eye on the miners flocking into the village below. Reverted to a prison after the South African war. Only male prisoners were held in the old fort with one notable exception, Nelson Mandela who was given a bed in what was then the hospital section.
Number Four Prison:
On arrival: During the apartheid era, police would arrive numerous times a day with prisoners. Prisoners were processed and personal details were recorded including finger prints and assigned with a number.
Searches: Prisoners would be strip searched; hosed down, summer or winter, and had to perform the dehumanizing "tausa" for the prison warders to see items that may be hidden in their rectum.
Food: In number four, food consisted of no more than a meatless porridge of mealies (corn) and beans with a plastic like texture.
Toilets and Showers: There were only eight, eastern style toilets to be used in number four. These toilets offered no privacy and were also in close proximity to the food area. Showers were allowed once a week but prisoners were often denied this for months.
Communal Cells: Overcrowded, dirty and badly ventilated cells lit by a small window only, was only a part of the brutal detention conditions. Ironically as authorities tried to break prisoners down, these communal cells became an area to build courage and discuss resistance including singing resistance songs to entertain, comfort and maintain solidarity. This was also used to defy the authorities.
Isolation cells - Emakhulukhuthu: Prisoners kept in the "deep dark hole" for up to 30 days, with only one hour per day outside. However, some prisoners spent many months in these cells on a diet of rice water.
Diseases: Diseases including typhoid and enteric fever were commonplace. Overcrowding with filthy food, bedding, clothes and sanitary conditions created perfect conditions for diseases.
The Women's Prison:
A Victorian brick building, Built in 1910, held both black and white female prisoners, however in separate sections. The vast majority of inmates were incarcerated here for pass offences or illegal beer brewing. Women were striped of not only their underclothes, but also their dignity.
The Prison Today:
The prison has been transformed into a living museum, revealing individual experiences with voices, sounds and images allowing the visitor a glimpse of how punishment was inflicted, physically and mentally, and the efforts made my inmates to overcome the power of suppression and the prison conditions.
The exhibition, based on extensive research with ex prisoners, tells a story of those incarcerated there and allows the visitor a view into the apartheid system through the eyes of a black prisoner. View videos of the experiences of former prisoners returning to the jail. From the ramparts that surround the fort, you get an excellent view of the surrounding areas, including Hillbrow, the downtown skyscrapers, Braamfontein and the green suburbs of Northern Johannesburg.
Constitution square: Large outdoor square in the heart of Constitution Hill, with its two remaining awaiting trail blocks as a reminder of the past.
Great African steps: Built from bricks from he demolished awaiting trial block. Walk between the legacy of the past on one side, the notorious number 4 prison and the Constitution Court on the other.
The Experience for the visitor:
This prison is as important as Robben Island both for the international visitor and the South African people as a nation.
"No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails." extract from Nelson Mandela's book "Long Walk to Freedom"
The Constitutional Court: South Africa's Highest Court
With one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, the court justices needed a fitting site for South Africa's constitutional court. The prison had fallen into a dilapidated state, but provided a site with rich cultural history. The court building itself was built using bricks from the demolished awaiting-trial wing of the former prison; "taking from the past to build the future".
The development perfectly represents inner Johannesburg city regeneration, contributing to socioeconomic upliftment. This once loathed place now stands as an historical landmark and a monument to South Africa's hard earned democracy promoting reconciliation and advancing human rights. Transparent glass lining the wall symbolises the transparency of the court and public seating is at the same level as that of judges, representing the equality of the court and constitution.
Contemporary artworks are on permanent display in the court building that is open to the public. The public is also welcome to attend hearings in the Constitution Court. Witness democracy at work.
Perfect tour options to include with the Constitution Hill tour to create a full day tour:
Johannesburg Tour - Soweto Tour - Apartheid Museum
For Tour details or bookings - please Contact us
Soweto Tour - Johannesburg Tour - Apartheid Museum - Constitution Hill - Gold Reef City - Lion Park
De Wildt Cheetah Sanctuary - Elephant Sanctuary interaction - Pretoria Tour - Pilanesberg National Park
Sun City and the Lost City - Cullinan Diamond Mine - Rhino and Lion Park - The Origins Centre
Adventure Sports - Nile Crocodile Farm - The Lesedi Cultural Village - Cradle of Humankind
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