This was part of This Time for Africa - Day 5 🇿🇦 🔗.
At 11:00 AM, we gathered at Green Market Square to begin our journey through Cape Town’s complex past. Our first stop was St. George’s Cathedral, known as the “People’s Cathedral” for its role in the resistance against Apartheid. Its grand neo-Gothic arches stood as a silent witness to many of the city’s most pivotal political gatherings.
From there, we entered The Company’s Garden, the oldest garden in South Africa, originally established in the 1650s to grow fresh produce for passing ships. Walking down the tree-lined avenues, we encountered the Cecil John Rhodes Statue, a controversial figure in modern South Africa, and the Company’s Garden Sundial, which has been tracking the Cape sun. We also passed the Parliament of South Africa Old Assembly, known as the Poorthuis, and saw the Statue of J.C. Smuts standing watch near the entrance.
Nestled within the greenery, The Company’s Garden Restaurant offers a peaceful spot for visitors to rest under the shade of ancient trees. However, the mood shifted as we left the gardens to visit the High Court Civil Annex. This site is an infamous reminder of the Apartheid regime; it was here that citizens had to present themselves for racial classification, often subjected to degrading tests to determine their legal rights and social standing.
Our walk continued toward Church Square, a space deeply tied to the history of slavery in the Cape. We saw the remembrance columns that make up The Cape Town Memorial To The Enslaved, inscribed with the names of those who were once sold here. Nearby stands the Statue of Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, a prominent South African politician and journalist.
Finally, we reached the Grand Parade, the city’s main public square. Standing before the Cape Town City Hall, it was easy to imagine the massive crowds that gathered here in 1990 to hear Nelson Mandela’s first speech after his release from prison. The ornate Italian Renaissance-style building remains one of the most beautiful landmarks in the city.
👣 Historic City Tour