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Historic site · Joanesburgo, Gauteng
Constitution Hill
Former prison in central Johannesburg where Mandela and Gandhi were held; today it houses the Constitutional Court, with museums and guided tours.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill occupies a hill between central Johannesburg and the Hillbrow neighbourhood. There stood the Old Fort, a late-19th-century Boer fort that became a prison, and other wings were added around it, such as Number Four for black prisoners and the women's prison. Mahatma Gandhi passed through there in the early 20th century, Nelson Mandela in 1962, and thousands were detained under apartheid laws.
After democracy, the site was chosen to house the Constitutional Court, opened in 2004, in a building partly constructed with bricks from demolished cells. The court can be visited, featuring artworks by South African artists and the Constitution's words carved at the entrance in several official languages.
The old wings became museums: in the Number Four and women's prison cells, panels and testimonies tell prisoners' lives. Guided tours take visitors through the buildings and along the fort's wall.
From the top of the hill there are views of central Johannesburg and the Hillbrow tower.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, with a guided tour. Check the court's opening days if you want to see inside.
How to get there
It is on Kotze Street in Braamfontein, about 2 km from the centre. Reachable by car, rideshare app or the city's sightseeing buses.
Tip
Take the guided tour: it tells the stories of the prisoners that the panels do not.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Constitution Hill
What is Constitution Hill?
A former prison in Johannesburg, now the seat of the Constitutional Court, with museums in the old wings.
Was Mandela imprisoned at Constitution Hill?
Yes, in 1962, at the Old Fort. Gandhi was also imprisoned there in the early 20th century.
Can you visit the Constitutional Court?
Yes, the court building is part of the Constitution Hill visit.