Memorial of the freedom fight and other Soweto, South Africa Things to Do Tips

A memorial of the student uprise in 1976, which is considered to be the beginning of the end of apartheid. The monument was not completed at the time we were there, in february 2002.

Take a look at cybernation's Soweto page or the link below for more information.

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Website: http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/06/15/inside.africa/

This is the house where Nelson Mandela and his ex wife Winnie lived before and after his long imprisonment. Mandela has donated the house to the people as a museum, but his ex does not agree, thus the gate was closed with a chain and a padlock when we were there :-(

In two different internet articles article from 2004, i learned that Nelson Mandela "handed the house to the Soweto Heritage Trust, but Winnie Madikizela-Mandela refused to relinquish it. Instead she turned it into the Mandela Family Museum in 1997 and set up a pub and restaurant across the road." but that "the Soweto house is now back in the hands of the Soweto Heritage Trust". More info and pictures on the linked page.

Opening hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm

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Phone: +27 (0)11 936 7754
Address: 8115 Ngakane Street, Orlando West, Soweto
Directions: Intersection of Vilikazi Street and Ngakane Street
Website: http://www.joburg.org.za/2004/aug/aug4_mandela.stm

A visit in one of the settlements is absolutely worth while. We ordered a Soweto tour through Drifters, with whom we were staying, and our guide had a deal with a local guide living in this settlement. This is a way of living while waiting for a steady job for young settlers, and / or a way to earn some money for education. Our local guide Eric was proud to show us the very well organized settlement, and was not very agressive in asking for money. I suppose he was already paid some through the tour operator, but he made it clear he did not mind a small donation to the settlement (or himself). I didn't mind, he was a polite young man and did a good job :-)

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