Nelson Mandela - Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa - Living Statues on Waymarking.com

Nelson Mandela, former South African President and activist, spent the last 3 of his 27 years in prison here. He had been put in prison for campaigning against Apartheid. He was sent to the maximum security prison on Robben Island in 1962 and remained there until 1984 when he was tranferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Tokai, Cape Town, then in 1988 he was moved here to Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly called Victor Verster Prison).

He spent three years in this low security prison, and was released on February 11, 1990. The statue is said to represent Mandela in a pose he presented as he left the prison.


The statue was commissioned by businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who had also spent time at Robben Island (13 years). He used African artist Jean Doyle to create the statue, which was unveiled on 27 August 2008. The statue is positioned as the centerpiece of the entrance/exit drive, on a six-sided platform. The platform is constructed of slabs of rocks, possibly representing the fractured pieces of Africa, (or the peoples/tribes)reunited into one cohesive, solid foundation. The base that supports the statue appears to have been a stategic choice, also: alternating slabs of black marble and white marble. The tour guide that pointed out some of the fine details of this statue mentioned the short "fence" circling the bottom of the statue. The fence is made from actual prison fence, but the steel rods are bent out, representing Nelson's release from prison. Nelson is shown wearing a crisp business suit, representing power and authority. The statue is positioned so that his back is to the prison, and he is striding purposefully toward the mountains in front of him, hand raised in a gesture recognized world wide as both defiant and victorious, similar to the pose commonly translated as "power to the people" (for those familiar with the 1960's revolutions).
Here is the text from the 2 plaques on the statue:

To be free is not merely to cast off one's
chains, but to live in a way that respects
and enhances the freedom of others.

The true test of our devotion to freedom
is just beginning.

I have walked that long road to freedom
I have tried not to falter. I have made
missteps along the way.
But I have discovered the secret that
after climbing a great hill, one only finds
that there are many more to climb.

I have taken a moment here to rest, to
steal a view of the glorius vista that
surrounds me, to look back on the
distance I have come.
But I can rest only for a moment, for
with freedom come responsibilities
and I dare not linger, for my long walk
is not yet ended.

The Sexwale Family Foundation has commissioned this LONG WALK TO FREEDOM Statue in honour of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela together with all those who walked before, alongside and for him in the quest for a united non-racial non-sexist, democratic and free South Africa. As part of the International Struggle for Human Solidarity against all forms of oppression and exploitation.

Visit Instructions:
At least one original photo, taken by the poster, of the statue. No internet photos.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   03/30/2017 Marvince visited it