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As we were finishing up our tour of the prison, our tardy companions caught up with us. They had come straight from the airport after 47 hours of travel!! but they are here and we are finally a full group.
Genevieve adds:
Today, we had the chance to explore a powerful symbol of South
Africa's journey from the past into the present and future. The
Constitutional Court, located at the site of Johannesburg's most
inhumane prison, is a moving site. Led by two fantastic tour guides
(who were law clerks), we learned all about the Court, its guiding
philosophy, and the deliberate decisions that determined its location
and the design and contents of the building.
Its design was guided by the theme, "Justice under a tree" and every
element of the building incorporates this theme (which has its roots
in tribal culture) in very thoughtful ways. From the sun light that
shines brightly throughout to highlight the transparency of justice to
the tree-like elements which symbolize the shelter a tree provides,
the design of the building is striking and meaningful. The richness
of the design doesn't end with the building--the Court houses an
incredible collection of art as well. Reflective of the court's
philosophy and values, the art balances a need to acknowledge the
legacy of apartheid while also offering hope for the future.
Mandela's hope for the Court was that it would stand as a beacon of
light for oppressed people all around the world. His hope was
realized.
Location:Johannesburg
Portions of the courtroom behind the judges were built from bricks from leveled portions of the old prison. Justice is built upon the ruins of injustice. The narrow window is also neat where justices can see the feet of those walking past, but cannot necessarily tell the race, gender, age or ethnicity of those passing by. The Court must confront the real world, but in an unbiased way. These are important symbols to go with justice under the tree!
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