Chester Mashaba : 672482. Constitutional Hill.

Locality Map

Introduction

 In this page i will be analyzing one of the public space in Braamfontein namely Constitution Hill. Constitution Hill is a city precinct, anchored by the South African Constitutional Court – the highest court in the country on constitutional matters.It is also the site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex,where thousands of ordinary people were brutally punished before the dawn of democracy.

History of the site 

Constitution Hill Precinct in Braamfontein Johannesburg has a very complex history going back to 1892 when the Old Fort was built under the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek. Functioning as a prison, except for the brief period of the South African War (1899-1902) when it was a military defence post, new buildings were added to the site in the late 1900s and early 20th Century: the so-called Natives’ section and isolation cells known as Sections Four and Five where black male prisoners were held, a Women’s Prison (1907), and an Awaiting Trial building (1920s). The prison complex of the Fort has impacted deeply on hundreds of thousands of ordinary South Africans lives as it was essentially a transitory prison where prisoners were held until they were sentenced before being transferred to serve their prison terms elsewhere

One of the aspects which gives this site its distinctive unique layout is the existence of public art which displays some of the activities which took place previously in the precinct.I will also argue that this precinct serves as both tourism destination and a landmark since Kevin Lynch describes landmarks external physical objects that can be used as point of reference.

Some of the exhibitions and museums you can engage with at Constitution Hill include the following:

The Number Four.

The journey to Number Four, the dark heart of Constitution Hill, deepens the visitor's understanding of what it means to be placed at the bottom of the racial hierarchy and how the apartheid system made criminals of black men. Prisoners such as Mahatma Ghandi, Robert Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela and the Students of the 1976 uprising know this prison all too well.

The Old Fort

 

 Built in 1893, this is one of Johannesburg's oldest buildings and was used as a fortress by Paul Kruger during the Anglo Boer War. This was a prison for white male prisoners, with Nelson Mandela being the only black prisoner to be held in this "whites only" prison.

The Women's Jail

The grace of this Victorian-style building belies the pain and suffering that occurred within. This is the place where the likes of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer and many other political activists were held.

Constitutional Court

South Africa's highest court, the guardian of the basic human rights and freedom that so many imprisoned here had fought for and won, also houses a collection of artworks by eminent South Africa artists. A tour through the court gives a visitor a chance to experience a real court case from the visitor decks.
In addition to the guided tours, Constitution Hill also offers a range of meeting, banqueting, conferencing venues, and locations for film shoots. A full calendar of public programmes, temporary and permanent exhibitions bring the site to life and enables the public to connect with the activities of the Constitutional Court.

References 

http://www.constitutionhill.org.za/what'sup@ConHill

 

Shaheil Rajkumaar 670978 - Badplaas, Mpumalanga (Holiday Destination))

 

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Badplaas offers an excellent variety of facilities. One of the most popular holiday destinations, with walks, horse riding, game viewing, super tubes, hot mineral pools, roller-skating, bowls, play parks and river rides.

Award winning Forever Resorts Badplaas has a superb Hydro Spa set in a game reserve in warm Mpumalanga. The Resort has 37 hotel rooms but is primarily self-catering with almost 150 log cabins and chalets.

A wide range of leisure activities is available and the resort has a restaurant and bar facilities; supermarket; kiosk; curio shop; liquor store and more.

Explore the 1 500 hectare Emanzana Nature Reserve accompanied by one of our rangers with a game drive, walks, horseback rides, sundowners or a bush braai. The reserve is also a bird-watchers paradise with ±300 species of birds.

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Facilities
* Supermarket
* Restaurant
* Hydro Spa & Treatments
* Coffee Shop
* Curio Shop
* Liquor Store
* Butchery
* Chemist
* BP Filling Station & Shop
* Hotel Dining Room & Bar
* Chip & Putt Bar
* Kiosk
* Laundromats
* Auto Teller Machines
* Garage
* Car Wash

Activities
Facilities and leisure activities include:
* Swimming pools - 2 x heated + 1 x baby pool and 1 x cold
* Supertube pool
* Rinkhals (tube rapids) pool
* Go-carts
* Guided quad bike tours in game reserve
* Paintball
* TV and Video arcade
* Pool tables
* Roller-skating
* Rinkhals (tube rapids)
* Super tube
* Foefie Slide
* Four Wheelers for children un 10 yrs
* Playparks for children