KwaZulu-Natal: A new multi-purpose and exhibition centre has been opened in the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct!

update (25 March 2020): The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct is closed for the period of the national lockdown.

South Africa's Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Sipho Hlomuka, have officially unveiled a R20 million state of the art multi-purpose and exhibition Centre in the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal on 11 Februay 2020.* According to the curator Christopher Till, the idea of the multi-purpose exhibition centre is to create an interactive experience of South Africa's rich history. The main feature of the exhibition centre is a 360-degree film experience, which connects the capture of Nelson Mandela by the Apartheid police on 05 August 1962 with his time on Robben Island and the emancipation of South Africa, including the election in 1994, in three different films.

Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash

At the event, Minister Kubayi-Ngubane announced the commencement of a R12-million upgrade of the visitors' parking at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct, which includes a gatehouse, driveway upgrade, turning circle visitor parking, pedestrian walkways, internal fencing and way-finding signage. KZN Cogta is also to commence with R1.5- million improvements to the Mandela sculpture lighting, the Long Walk to Freedom lighting, ambient lighting around the Education Centre, and additional electrical infrastructure which will ensure that the site can be utilised by tourists even at night.
The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Precinct is located about 5 km north-west of Howick on the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg. It is open daily from 09:00 - 16:00. As of 13 February 2020, the admission fee will be R30 for young adults (12 - 18 years), R100 for adults, R60 for adults 60 years+ and R60 for students.

*11 February 2020 is the 30th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela's release from prison.