Nelson Mandela house

President Nelson Mandela’s home 

8115 Orlando West, 

Corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane Streets, 

Soweto, South Africa

March 4, 2024

Prior to his prison time of 27 years, Mandela’s family life was centered at 8115 Orlando West now known as the Mandela House. 

"That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography." Nelson Mandela - The Long Walk to Freedom

Built in 1945, Mandela house was commissioned as part of a Johannesburg City tender for new houses in Orlando. Whilst tiny in structure (Madiba mentioned that ‘the bedroom was so small that a double bed took up almost the entire floor space’) its testimony of truth on the family’s immense struggles for a free South Africa is indelibly large.

The house was ready in 1946 to receive Mandela who moved in with his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase. 11 years later and with a divorce finalized in 1957, Mandela welcomed his second wife, Winnie Madikizela Mandela into residence.

By 1977 Nelson Mandela's daughters continue to live here while Winnie is banished in exile to Brandfort. From 1986-1996 Winnie returns from exile, to Orlando and lives with daughters.

On July 28, 1988, Winnie and Nelson’s beloved house was burnt to the ground by a fire. The community came together to help re-build the Mandela’s house.

11 years later, on March 16, 1999, the house was awarded the status of a public heritage site, with Nelson Mandela as the Founder Trustee.

Vilakazi Street is a legend in its own right. Based in the world’s most famous township Soweto, Vilakazi Street’s accolades run the length of the street. It is home to TWO Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The street also memorializes Hector Pietersen who was killed by police in the 1976 student uprising. The image captured by Sam Nzima made 12-year old Hector an international icon in the fight against the Apartheid government.

Above, Antoinette Sithole, Hector Pietersen's sister, with Jim and Nida Jackson at the memorial for her brother. 

Vilakazi Street is named after Dr BW Vilakazi, an intellectual, poet and novelist who was the first black man to teach at the University of Witwatersrand (WITS).

Restoration work commenced on July 18, 2008 to mark Madiba’s 90^th birthday. The restoration goal focused on maintaining heritage preservation and conservation. Mandela House was closed for a year to source original fabrics to match the authentic structure of the space; construct a new Visitor Center, and the design and installation of exhibitions that display as a visual storytelling element. 

Extensive research and curation was done to bring all the storytelling elements and the general spaces of the house, inside and out, together.

On 19 March 2009, the House was re-opened in a formal exclusive launch to showcase the necessary changes in welcoming visitors and creating a better tourist experience.

Information provided courtesy of the Mandela House: https://www.mandelahouse.com/