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Enshrining the rights of all citizens and central to the transition to democracy in South African is its Constitution. Guarded by the Constitutional Court, our Constitution is recognised as one of the most progressive — advancing human rights and promoting reconciliation.Now, as a symbol of our country's regeneration and commemorating South Africa's decade of democracy, the highest court in the land has been given a new home in the heart of Johannesburg known as Constitution Hill.
The development aims to turn the court into an anchor in the inner city, surrounded by a unique precinct with heritage and cultural assets that promise to make it the prime tourist destination in Gauteng.
Situated between the high-density residential neighbourhood of Hillbrow to its east and the mixed-use predominantly commercial node of Braamfontein to its west, this development perfectly represents the ideals behind inner-city regeneration developments and will contribute to the city's economic, social and cultural upliftment.
Constitution Hill will be a major national and international Heritage Site comprising an integrated and sustainable multipurpose and multidimensional space. The 95 000m2 publicly-owned site hosts important heritage buildings, such as the Old Fort.
The site houses three notorious prisons:
- "The Fort" or "Ekhulukhuthu": the "deep hole" or "isolation cell" where white inmates were kept;
- Section Four and Section Five or the so-called "Natives' Gaol" built in 1902; and
- The "Women's Gaol", built in 1909.
The new precinct will also be home to statutory bodies, such as the Commission on Gender Equality, as well as a thriving complex of heritage sites and museums, exhibition and performance spaces, offices, shops, restaurants and other tourist facilities.
Constitution Hill celebrates South Africa's ability to talk itself out of a bloody racial conflict and into democracy. It will be a "lekgotla" - a place of gathering - where South Africans and international visitors alike will come together for stimulating dialogue and debate. The precinct will also be the home of one of South Africa's major public art collections. It will be an engine of growth and transformation for downtown Johannesburg and a place where visitors can feel, safely, the beat of this vibrant but often inaccessible city.
Constitution Hill comprises:
- The Constitutional Court
- Accommodation for the Constitutional Commissions
- Commercial space (36 000m2) for related commercial, retail and hospitality activities
In addition, the development will create and sustain 1 860 super-basement parking bays, bus and taxi holding and drop-off facilities, upgraded peripheral roads and internal streets, a visitors' information and exhibition centre, new museums and related heritage and tourism activities, approximately 200 rental residential units, community facilities and public open spaces.
The R460-million public sector spend on this development will leverage an estimated similar private sector investment amount to complete the initiative.
