Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award.
The sculptures of the four Laureates stand in the form of a crescent with Table Mountain in the background, overlooking Nobel Square, located in the V&A Waterfront. They are slightly larger than life-size and have the Laureates' preferred quotations engraved in their chosen language in front of the sculptures. The Peace and Democracy sculpture - a narrative work acknowledging the contribution of women and children to the attainment of peace in South Africa - is slightly more to the centre of the square. All five sculptures are cast in bronze and stand on an inner granite area of 386 square metres.
The idea to honour South Africa's four Nobel Peace Prize Laureates through sculpture was born in November 2002, during a conversation between the Premier of the Western Cape, Ebrahim Rasool, and the former Premier of the province, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. After the Provincial Government of the Western Cape had consulted with the three surviving Laureates and the family of Nkosi Luthuli about its plans to honour the Laureates, the V&A Waterfront was approached to play host to this tribute - providing the people of and visitors to the Western Cape with an engaging and accessible place of reflection and contemplation.
SOUTH AFRICAN WINNERS
1960
Nkosi Albert Luthuli joined the ANC in 1945, and was appointed Provincial President of the ANC in Natal in 1951. As chief, the government would not allow him to participate in active politics and gave him an ultimatum either to continue his chieftainship or remain within the ANC. He chose the latter and in the same year was elected ANC President-General. 1960 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: President of the African National Congress in South Africa.
1984
Desmond Tutu was born in Klerksdorp in 1931 and is the son of a schoolteacher and a domestic worker. The year 1958 was to prove a watershed year for Tutu when he decided to leave his teaching career and enter the ministry. He attended St Peter's Theological College in Rosettenville where he received his Licentiate in Theology.
1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: Bishop of Johannesburg and former Secretary General South African Council of Churches (S.A.C.C.).
1993
On 2 February 1990 State President De Klerk made announcements in Parliament that would drastically change South Africa and accelerate the abolition of apartheid. His decision to release political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, and to lift the ban on the African National Congress, the Pan-African Congress, and the SA Communist Party was met with strong right-wing opposition. But it was this bold approach and his leadership role in the constitutional transformation of South Africa that earned him the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, as co-recipient, with Mandela.
1993
Nelson Mandela, as President of the African National Congress, served as the first democratically elected President of a free South Africa in May 1994.
In 1993, Mandela, together with De Klerk, received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in promoting a democratic South Africa. Reconciliation characterizes his leadership since his release from 27 years incarceration.
Despite officially retiring from public life in 1999, he has continued his compassionate, humanitarian work, taking his tireless fight for justice, peace and human understanding beyond the borders of South Africa.
Go to the info board indicated with the waypoint to get some more insight on the history of the four individuals honored here.
There use to be a cache at this location and this cache is not where that one use to be, so be sure to follow your gps but know that the cache should be about two meters out, it is NOT in the street and it is NOT in the flower bed. Adjacent to gz you will see a walkway and the cache is in there. I share this cause I do not want you to attract attention or scratch around the garden. If you feel the need for more of a hint, read the hint. I want people to know where to look, I am running out of quality hides at this location so would rather let cachers know what and where to look than compromise the cache.
The container is to small for swag and a writing tool so please remember to bring your own.