Attraction Guide: Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly Victor Verster Prison), Cape Town, South Africa

Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly Victor Verster Prison) Guide

Drakenstein Correctional Centre: Where Mandela Walked to Freedom Guide

Visit Drakenstein Correctional Centre, formerly known as Victor Verster Prison, a place of immense historical significance in South Africa's struggle against apartheid. This is where Nelson Mandela spent the final 14 months of his 27-year imprisonment, and it was from here that he took his first steps to freedom on February 11, 1990, marking a pivotal moment in the country's history. A visit to this site offers a powerful and moving experience. Victor Verster Prison was built in 1969 and initially served as a low-security prison farm. In 1988, Nelson Mandela was transferred here from Pollsmoor Prison, where he had spent the previous six years. During his time at Victor Verster, Mandela was housed in a private house on the prison grounds, allowing him greater freedom and access to visitors. It was here that he engaged in crucial negotiations with the apartheid government, paving the way for the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic South Africa. Today, Drakenstein Correctional Centre remains a functioning prison, but visitors can tour the grounds and see the house where Mandela lived. A bronze statue of Mandela stands outside the prison gates, commemorating his release and his walk to freedom. While access to the interior of the house may be restricted, the opportunity to stand on the grounds where Mandela spent his final months of imprisonment and to reflect on his extraordinary journey is a deeply moving experience. The site serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the triumph of justice over oppression.