The Old Fort is on its way to become Johannesburg's new "in" place for private parties and special functions.
Tshepo Nkosi, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Development Agency, which has been responsible for the reconstruction, marketing and management of Constitution Hill, said the Old Fort, a prison built by Boer president, Paul Kruger in 1896 had proven a popular venue in the short time that it had been open to the public. "We opened it on March 22 with a week-long screening of William Kentridge's Nine Drawings video performed with the Sontonga quartet that drew sell-out audiences."
He said too that the Old Fort with its romantic ramparts, from which views all the way to the Magaliesberg can be seen, and its magnificent Victorian architecture with wide courtyards and conference centre was seeing brisk activity among those who wanted to host unusual dinner parties, cocktail functions, special events and conferences. The Old Fort has safe parking and easy access from Johannesburg's main arterials.
A diplomatic function, a multinational donor agency event and a Johannesburg A-list party are some of the events that have taken part in The Fort's magnificent Victorian timber lined and stone-floored atrium.
On April 27 an educational centre, which will be a hub for school tours, and a children's room will also be opened.
Substantial tourism traffic is making its way to Constitution Hill with its two museum prisons - the Old Fort, and Number Four - and the Constitutional Court and its art atrium and public gallery where the public can witness court sessions, as well as to Constitution Hill's coffee shops.
Tour guides say visitors are particularly touched by the exhibitions made by those who were imprisoned at Number Four - including soap and blanket sculptures made by former prisoners. Visitors to the prison also hear prisoner songs, watch videos of prisoner workshops where former prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, recount their experiences at one of the most notorious and chilling prison complexes in the country. There are also a range of interactive exhibitions designed to attract children and adults alike.
"There have been many thoughtful responses to our We, the People, public participation programme," said Tshepo Nkosi. Visitors to the site are invited to write messages sharing their thoughts on democracy and the constitution. Prominent advocate George Bizos who represented Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia trial (after Mandela was briefly held at the Old Fort) wrote: "For more than 50 years, those in the forefront of the struggle dreamt of the day that freedom would appear on the horizon. Some of us who defended them shared that dream. Out of a place of sorrow has risen the Constitutional Court as a joyous phoenix. A dream comes true when millions share it."
His thoughts and those of other visitors are engraved by on-site engraver Isaac Luphindo onto copper plates and affixed to the We, the People wall. Those not affixed to the wall are archived. Every five years the engravings on the wall will be replaced and reflect the views of a new generation, making the Wall an evolving project about citizens' views on democracy.
There is also a standing exhibition of photographs and sayings from citizens about the constitution collected over a three month long journey across South Africa.
"It is important that Constitution Hill contains living museums," Nkosi said. "This was a place were freedom was once denied, now freedom is protected by the Constitutional Court here and celebrated by visitors."
The six venue and exhibition sites at Constitution Hill include:
- The Fort Courtyard (136sq m, outdoor) with two storey walls that frame the Hillbrow landscape. The site is acoustically appropriate and seats up to 90 people.
- The Fort Conference Room (92sq m, indoor) includes a kitchen, serving counter, full audio-visual capacity, internet access, a digital projector and seating for 70.
- The Fort Atrium (67sq m, indoor) connects two prison wings and is appropriate for launches, cocktail parties and small dinner events. It can accommodate four to five round tables. It has hosted larger events using adjacent courtyards, and conference spaces.
- Exhibition and Special Events Rooms at the Fort (200sq m, indoor) are suitable for temporary exhibitions, a banquet for 90 or a standing event for 250 people.
- Constitution Square (1200sq m, outdoor) is a large outdoor piazza suitable for large public events and performances for around 900 people.
Those interested in hiring a venue should contact the Venue Co-Ordinator at 011-403-5191 or 011-403-5194 during office hours.
The museums may be visited seven days a week from 9am to 5pm with the exception of Christmas day and Good Friday. For bookings or further information contact the Visitor Services Manager on 011-274-5300 or visit www.constitutionhill.org.za
Constitution Hill is the home of The Constitutional Court of South Africa and is the 492-million rand urban regeneration development funded by The Gauteng Provincial Government's Blue IQ Initiative, City of Johannesburg, the Department of Justice and other philanthropic organisations and delivered by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).
This mixed-use development offers a unique cultural, historical, educational, business and recreational space. It is a place where visitors can experience the story of the South African transition, observe the process by which freedom is now protected and learn how South Africa is building the future on the past. Constitution Hill is open to the public and tourists from 22 March 2004. Entrance and tours are free to the public until May.
-ENDS- This information is released by Ochre Communication on behalf of JDA. For further information, interviews and photographs, please contact Rafiq Asmal on (011) 880-2567 or 072 273 2946 or email on Rafiq@ochre.co.za
