Constitution Hill, or Con Hill as affectionately known by the young inhabitants of Joburg, is perhaps one of the most symbolic and prominent buildings that make up the face of Johannesburg.

There is something ominous about the remaining watch towers that stand stark on the four corners of the courtyard facing the Constitution Court. You can’t help but feel and imagine what the prisoners went through, standing in the prison yard surrounded by stone walls raised high as to almost touch the blinding sun. Con Hill also shows reflections of a new South Africa whose very Constitution is being protected and upheld. Statues of dancing figures are juxtaposed with slabs denoting the days of famous prisoners like Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu. This symbolism re-enforces the feeling that we have many more days to celebrate our constitutional freedom.

Today the site is used as a museum that aims to give a unique look into South Africa’s rich political history; it also stands as a symbol of the country’s progressive constitution.

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