In 1999 Dr Nelson Mandela said, “…the day should not be far off, when we shall have a people’s shrine, a Freedom Park, where we shall honour with all the dignity they deserve, those who endured pain so we should experience the joy of freedom.”

That day has arrived and, driven by the necessity for the diverse people of South Africa and the world to understand and appreciate the country’s struggle for liberation, Freedom Park was born as a national and international icon of humanity and freedom.                 

A key Presidential Legacy Project

One of the 11 Presidential Legacy Projects, Freedom Park was launched on 01 June 2000 as a response to the need identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for symbolic reparation of past conflicts in the history of South Africa. It is the product of the many processes engaged in by Government since 1994 to create and foster a new national consciousness of the common legacy that binds the people of South Africa.

The Park is located on a 52-hectare site on Salvokop in Pretoria - a vantage point that offers visitors a spectacular panorama of our capital city and beyond. Visitors are guaranteed to stand in awe at the sharply contrasting view, offering the opposites of our world; the hustle and industry of the city centre to the north and the tranquility and lush vegetation to the south.

Freedom Park opened its doors in December 2007. Since then, the Park has become the place where South African citizens and international tourists alike have found a haven to reflect on the past, but more importantly, also found a beacon for the future.

Hailed as the most ambitious heritage project of our democratic government, Freedom Park is set to become one of the foremost tourist destinations in our country. A visit to the Park allows tourists to literally experience the heart and soul of South Africa captured in a physical space.

A first of its kind internationally, Freedom Park is founded on the values of human dignity, rights and freedom, and is a reflection of the sacrificial achievements the nation has made. It tells the story of South Africa’s reconciliation process and the advancement of human rights entrenched in the Constitution. Freedom Park – an embodiment of where we come from as a nation - tells a tale of South Africa’s diverse heritage in a visual and interactive way.

A people’s shrine

Freedom Park weaves the story of where we come from and the historical and cultural events that shaped what South Africa is today. In the mind’s eye, the structure brings back to life ancient warriors that roamed the planes of Southern Africa – it recalls to memory the thousands of men and women bearing the yoke of slavery and of a people and a culture so nearly destroyed by genocide.

Above all, it showcases a nation that does not shrink from even the greatest sacrifice to achieve the extraordinary. It is the heartbeat of all that is South African; our history, culture, spirituality and heritage – the hub through which to know this land of promise.

The Park is indeed a beacon of homage and tranquility amidst the hustle of South Africa’s capital that literally grips at the heartstrings and invites visitors to stop and contemplate the vast sacrifices that our current freedom and liberation required.

Designed to restore the social cohesion by focusing on reconciliation as well as bearing witness to the past, Freedom Park encapsulates South Africa’s living heritage and thus assists all South Africans in creating footsteps between the past, the present and the future. It serves as a permanent symbol of inspiration, not only in the present day but also for future generations.

 The Park comprises a number of elements to be constructed and commissioned in a phased approach.

• To find out more about the elements of Freedom Park, click here.
• To find out more about the phases of the project and the progress on construction, click here.