Constitution Hill Review

Read our Johannesburg sights reviews. Or post your own.

Constitution Hill

  • Address: Joubert and Kotze Sts., entrance on Sam Hancock St., Braamfontein, Johannesburg
  • Phone: 011/274-5300
  • www.constitutionhill.org.za

Fodor's Review:

Overlooking Jo'burg's inner city and suburbs, Constitution Hill houses the Constitutional Court set up in 1994 with the birth of democracy, as well as the austere Old Fort Prison Complex (also called Number Four), where thousands of political prisoners were incarcerated, including South African Nobel Peace laureates Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela, and iconic Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. The court decides on the most important cases relating to human rights, much like the Supreme Court in the United States. Tours and exhibits in the visitor center portray the country's journey to democracy. You can walk along the prison ramparts (built in the 1890s), read messages on the We the People Wall (and add your own), or view the court itself, in which large, slanting columns represent the trees under which African villagers traditionally met to discuss matters of importance. A restaurant, a coffee shop, and a museum shop are found on Constitution Square, a central piazza, as well as a children's room with special programs. The daily tour now includes a visit to the women's jail, where photographs and exhibits of how women were treated in the prison system and how they contributed to the struggle against apartheid are displayed. Future plans for Constitution Hill include restaurants, apartments, and hotels.

  • Cost: R22 for tourists and R15 for citizens
  • Open: Daily 9-5; last entry at 4
Find more sights in Johannesburg »

Member Reviews and Ratings

Be the first to review this property

Get Advice From Other Travelers

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip



Get the Fodor's Newsletter

For more travel ideas, tips, and deals, sign up for the Fodor's newsletter here. Read the current issue. Browse previous issues.




Copyright © 2010 Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc.