Gauteng Business 2016 edition

PROFILE
Constitution Hill
Dedicated to remembering past
struggles, Constitution Hill is a site
of consciousness and conscience.
Located on the site of
Johannesburg’s infamous Old
Fort Prison Complex, where many
apartheid struggle heroes were
persecuted, Constitution Hill is
a multi-million rand inner city
regeneration project. The intention
with the project, anchored by
the South African Constitutional
Court, is to develop the available
portions as iconic infrastructure
in such a way that it is sensitive
to the context, the architecture
as well as the overall ambition of
the stakeholders.
The site houses the Women’s Gaol Museum, Number
Four Museum and the Old Fort Museum. The
Constitutional Court and other strategic tenants play
an educational role focusing on constitutionalism,
human rights, and democracy. Boasting a variety
of multipurpose venues, suitable for conferencing,
performance, a large array of events and for public
activities and programmes, this national heritage
site reflects the stories of South Africa’s turbulent
past and its extraordinary transition to democracy.
Once a place of injustice and brutality, where South
Africa’s leading political activists (including Nelson
Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were detained), the
site has been transformed into a place of solidarity
and democracy and today it boasts of a total of 21
indoor and outdoor venues spread over three buildings
ranging in capacity from 20 to 1 200 guests.
Apart from hosting engaging and gripping exhibitions,
Constitution Hill, or ConHill, as it is famously
known, is also open to the public for guided tours
and has become an important platform for heritage,
education, and tourism related programmes. With
its rich history and character, Constitution Hill boasts
the ideal platforms to educate and learn about South
Africa’s story.
The Constitution Hill Development Company
(ConHill) was established in order to set up the appropriate
management arrangements to ensure the
delivery of heritage, education and tourism programmes,
including key functions that would realise
the overall vision for the site and contribute to the
revitalisation of the inner-city.
Programmes
Heritage, Education and Tourism Programme
(HET): Through this programme, Constitution Hill
promoted social entrepreneurship through the development
and hosting of creative works. It also
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