A R20 million state of the art Nelson Mandela multi-purpose exhibition centre, honouring the legacy of South Africa’s first democratic President, has been opened at the Mandela Capture Site in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The launch coincides with the 30th anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison. Curator Christopher Till says the idea was to create an interactive experience of South Africa’s rich history.
“We’ve put in a 360-degree film experience. 3 films, one is the vehicle in which he was in the capture site – which is a replica of the original car he was arrested in. We filmed that car in the landscape for about 2 weeks. The story is him coming from Groutville after meeting Chief Albert Luthuli. We give that visual experience followed by a very surreal film on Robben Island. Then the events that took place leading to the emancipation of South Africa and in the election in 1994. It is interactive, there is a very large light table, there are sound elements that you can pick up and listen to, film clips. It’s an engaging experience,” says Till.
