BACKGROUND On the fifth year of his presidency (In 1999), the then President of South Africa and now the Patron in-Chief of Freedom Park, Tata Madiba once said: “ …the day should not be far off, when we shall have a people’s shrine, a Freedom Park, where we shall honor with all the dignity they deserve, those who endured pain so we should experience the joy of freedom.”

BACKGROUND When the then President Mbeki took over the baton from TATA Madiba he took every word from that declaration to ensure that Madiba ‘s Dream became a reality. After a series of thorough civil societal consultations the work later began in earnest and indeed Freedom Park was born. In December 2011, President Zuma officially opened the Reconciliation Road between Freedom Park and Voortrekker Monument and created a platform for practical collaborations between the two Monuments During April 2013, Deputy President Kgalema Montlante official opened the last phase of Madiba’s dream - //hapo – which literally means a Dream and taken from a proverb that says: “A dream is not a dream until it is shared by the entire community” Now that the last development phase is completed Freedom Park has just began the full and exciting operational phase!

PRODUCT OFFERINGS

//hapo Freedom Park offers //hapo - a breathtaking heritage experience that navigate visitors on a unique journey dating back 3,6 billion years ago and systematically traverse the seven eras or epochs from an African perspective commencing with epoch Earth, Ancestors, Peopling, Resistance and Colonization, Industrialization and Urbanization, Nationalisms and Struggle and consolidating all these epochs with the last but not least - Nation and Continent Building Very soon we shall be opening up this restaurant, a coffee shop and a library

//hapo

Isivivane is a spiritual place … … the resting place for those who died fighting for humanity and freedom in South Africa … where individual, group and community pain stemming from past struggles and conflicts is transferred into a shared, national pain

Isivivane

In Isivivane … Lesaka: eleven boulders - nine from the South African provinces, a boulder for the national government and a boulder for the international community. Lekgotla: meeting place around an Umlahlankosi tree where visitors can come together to discuss and contemplate.

In Isivivane … Trees: nine Umlahlankosi trees surround Isivivane, each donated by a South African province. Water: water points are stationed at the entrance of Isivivane for washing hands when entering and exiting.exiting.

Sikhumbuto is the memorial … … it stands as a testimony to the conflicts that shaped the South Africa we live in today … it commemorates those who laid down their lives for humanity and freedom

Sikhumbuto

In Sikhumbuto … Wall of Names: inscribed with the names of those who died during the eight conflicts that shaped South Africa. Amphitheater: with a capacity to seat people, the amphitheater is used for national events and celebrations.

In Sikhumbuto … Sanctuary: a safe haven where visitors can pray, light a candle or reflect. Eternal Flame: calls on visitors to remember the unsung heroes and heroines – those who died without their names being recorded in history.

In Sikhumbuto … Reeds: in the African creation story, man emerges from the reeds. The reeds thus signify South Africa as an emerging nation. President’s Tree: a wild African olive, our former president, Mr Thabo Mbeki, planted this tree during the sod-turning ceremony for Sikhumbuto.

In Sikhumbuto … Gallery of Leaders: pays tribute to the achievements and represent the leadership qualities of those exceptional leaders who brought about qualitative leaps in the struggle for humanity and freedom nationally, continentally and internationally.

Moshate

Moshate is the hospitality suite … … used for diplomatic and high-level discussions … based on the design of the homes of Dikgosi within South Africa

Uitspanplek

Moshate is a tranquil place … … where visitors can relax after a tour … breathtaking views of the city and luscious lawns make this the ideal picnic spot for the family

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