HECTOR PIETERSON MEMORIAL
The Hector Pieterson
Memorial and museum opened in Soweto in 2002, not far from the spot where 12 year-old Hector was shot on the 16 June 1976 during the
Soweto uprising that today is a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government.
The Hector Pieterson Memorial
Soweto, a city developed as a township for black people during apartheid, lies south of Johannesburg. Its residents number some
2 million people with homes that range from shacks to extravagant mansions, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial site is included on any number of tours through the area.
On 16 June on the day Hector was killed,
school children had gathered to protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in township schools. There are contradictory accounts of just who gave the first command to shoot but as children began singing
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, and before they could be dispersed, the police opened fire. Some
20 children died in the ensuing pandemonium.
Hector Pieterson has become something of an
iconic image of the fateful day, mostly due to a photograph published across the globe by Sam Nzima, photographer at the time for The World newspaper in Johannesburg, of the
dying Hector carried by a fellow student, Hector's sister alongside, her hands held out in panic.
Hector Pieterson being carried by the unknown student
Today 16 June is
National Youth Day to honour young people.
The precinct also includes
Nelson Mandela's Orlando West house.
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday 10:00am to 17:00pm
- Sundays 10:00am to 16:00pm
Entrance fee:
- R15.00 Adults
- R5.00 Students
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Johannesburg Hotels near this attraction.
GOLD REEF CITY
Gold Reef City is made up of a
theme park, Apartheid museum and
casino facilities, which has proved to be a winning combination.
International travelers savour the offering of
traditional African music, dance and history found throughout the complex. The carefully documented history of Apartheid is
a must-see on a South African visit. It is a comprehensive and colourful depiction of mining life at the turn of the nineteenth century. With gumboot dancing that can be enjoyed in three daily displays at points throughout the town.
World-class roller coasters at Gold Reef City
The
underground mine tour takes place in the world's richest and deepest gold mines and go down 57 levels or
3,500m. Over its 90-year lifespan the mine has produced some
1.4 million kilograms of gold, blasted out of the ground by 30000 miners. As you step out the lit underground, you look ahead to a whitewashed tunnel and walk down two-meter high tunnels, with a hard hat and a torch. There is even an
underground pub if you feel like some refreshments!
The Tower of Terror ride
Operating hours:
- The Gold Reef City Theme Park is open Tuesday - Sunday from 9:30am - 17:00pm.
- They are open every day during Gauteng school holidays. Not open on Christmas day.
Entrance fee:
- R120.00 per person, including all rides, shows and exhibitions, but excluding Jozi's Story of Gold
- R80.00 Senior citizens over 60
- R390.00 Family ticket of 4 (2 parents 2 children under 16yrs)
- R70.00 Toddlers under 1.2m
APARTHEID MUSEUM
The basic
principle behind Apartheid was simple - segregate everything.
Cut a clean line through a nation to
divide black from white and keep them divided. Segregation is exactly where it belongs - in a museum. The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
Beginning in 1948, the National Party government initiated a process which turned over
20 million people into 2nd class citizens.
The Apartheid Museum
Their
liberation in 1994 with the election of
Nelson Mandela, the prisoner who became president, is a climax in the saga of a nations resistance, courage and fortitude.
The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the
rise and fall of apartheid: The racially
prejudiced system that blighted much of its progress and the triumph of reason which crowned half a century of struggle.
Entrance to the Apartheid Museum, a reminder of the past
For anyone wanting to understand and experience what South Africa was really like, a visit to the Apartheid Museum is fundamental.
The museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with the past and working towards a future that all South African's can call their own.
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 17:00pm
- Closed Mondays, Good Friday and Christmas Day
Entrance fee:
- R40.00 per adult
- R25.00 per Pensioner, students and children
- R5.00 extra per person for a guided tour
TOTAL COST OF TOUR / TRANSFERS TO ALL VENUES - 2009
- Duration of tour ± 6 hours
- R500.00 per adult (2 minimum)
- R100.00 per child (with 2 adults minimum)
- Johannesburg ⇒ all venues ⇒ Johannesburg
NOTES
- Rates applicable to a group must have the same Collection and Drop off point.
- Entrance to the various venues, meals and refreshments are not included.
- Child rates apply while travelling with 2 full paying adults (under 12).
Get in touch for a list if available options.
