A week before the first anniversary of Mandela’s death, 6 December 2013, I visited The Nelson Mandela Memorial, at Madiba’s Capture Site for the first time.

A spectacular tribute to Nelson Mandela –South Africa’s first black president died aged 95 – by artist, Marco Cianfanelli, marks the 50-year anniversary of Mandela’s “Long walk to freedom.”

Upon President Jacob Zuma unveiling the artwork on the 6th of August 2012, Cianfanelli stated: “This represents the momentum gained in the struggle through the symbolic of Mandela’s capture. The 50 columns represent the 50 years since his capture, but they also suggest the idea of many making the whole; of solidarity. It points to an irony as the political act of Mandela’s incarceration cemented his status as an icon of struggle, which helped ferment the groundswell of resistance, solidarity and uprising, bringing about political change and democracy.”

It is incredible how only from a certain point, about 35m before the sculpture, do the 50 steel column constructions the image of Mandela, facing west, comes in to focus.

The museum takes you on a journey through the life of Mandela and his battle against Apartheid that brought about a democratic South Africa.

DIRECTIONS From Durban: 
Proceed north along the N3 freeway and take the ‘Howick/Tweedie’ off ramp.  At the Stop, turn left and proceed till you see the sign on your right (just after the bend) that reads ‘Mandela Capture Point’ – about 5 minutes from the N3.