South Africa Gauteng Soweto

Vilakazi Street

Iconic street, home to two Nobel Prize winners – Mandela and Tutu, in a famous Johannesburg township known for its historical significance.
  • Vilakazi Street

Tips from the community

This was the first home Mandela proudly owned after having lived in a single room in one of Johannesburg’s other townships, Alexandra.  He lived here with his first wife Evelyn and then his second wife and fellow activist, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela from 1942 till the 1990’s.   It speaks of a successful man, one who values the home life but who unfortunately was seldom home due to his responsibilities as activist and lawyer, as well as hiding from the apartheid authorities.   “It was the opposite of grand, but it was my first true home of my own and I was mightily proud. A man is not a man until he has a house of his own.”  Even after his release from prison he returned to this, the Mandela House, and said of it, “for me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography”. You can visit the newly restored home at R60 a person, Mondays to Sundays 9:00 to 16:45.  It’s only a 20 minute visit, so be sure to visit some of the other Vilakaze Street tourist attractions while there.

BelindaFourie 5 years ago

Vilakazi Street Articles