The homes of nelson mandela
Mvezo (1918)
Photo: Hannah Collins
Nelson Mandela was born on 18th July 1918 in Mvezo. A small village near Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape, Mandela was part of the Madiba clan. His family was forced to leave Mvezo, explains the Nelson Mandela Museum, crossing the river to find shelter with relatives in Qunu.
Qunu (1920)
Photo: Mark Turner
Nelson Mandela grew up in the village of Qunu, where he also went to school - in between fighting other boys with sticks and sliding down hills.
"Some of the happiest years of my boyhood were spent in Qunu," he wrote in his memoirs, Long Walk to Freedom. "The hills above Qunu were dotted with large smooth rocks which we transformed into our own rollercoaster. We sat on flat stones and slid down the face of the rocks. We did this until our backsides were so Sore we could hardly sit down."
After 27 years in prison, the freed Nelson Mandela returned to his childhood village and made it his home again by building a place to retire next to a main highway.
Living opposite him in a "modest hut that serves as a shop and post office", the chieftainess of Qunu told The Guardian that he was a humble man, comfortable in his old village.
"Here in Qunu, he didn't wear a suit. He wore a big shirt and walked around without bodyguards. Here he was home. He loved this place."
8115 Vilakazi Street, Soweto (1946)
Photo: Dontstopliving.net
"It was the opposite of grand, but it was my first true home of my own and I was mightily proud. A man is not a man until he has a house of his own." - Long Walk to Freedom
This home in Soweto, Orlando West, was built in 1945. One year later, Nelson Mandela moved in with his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase. They divorced in 1847, but his second wife, Winnie, moved in with him in 1958. With its tin roof, narrow kitchen and small bedrooms, the home may not sound like much - indeed, it was identical to many in the area - but the property retained a special place in the President's heart as his first true home.
He wrote about his return there following his release in 1990: "That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison."
The Mandela House has since been renovated and preserved as a public heritage site and permanent tribute to the legacy of the Mandela Family.
Robben Island (1964)
Photo: Geoff Theref
In 1943, Nelsom Mandela joined the African National Congress as a law student. His campaigning against apartheid, though, saw him arrested in 1964 and given a life sentence. He served most of the time in Robben Island.
"I could walk the length of my cell in three paces. When I lay down, I could feel the wall with my feet and my head grazed the concrete at the other side." - Long Walk to Freedom.
Photo: AmysJoy
"We were each issued three blankets so flimsy and worn they were practically transparent. Our bedding consisted of a single sisal, or straw, mat. Later we were given a felt mat, and one placed the felt mat on top of the sisal one to provide some softness. At that time of year, the cells were so cold and the blankets provided so little warmth that we always slept fully dressed."
Photo: Meg Mogginton
Tuynhuys (1994)
Photo: Coda
In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black President. He moved into the Presidential Office at Tuynhuys in Cape Town, his journey from prisoner to President providing inspiration and hope to people around the world.
Houghton (2013)
Photo: GovernmentZA
Nelson Mandela retained his home in Houghton when he was elected President. While he spent his retirement mostly in Qunu, he was returned to his Johannesburg home after spending several months in hospital, where he continued to receive medical care.
He passed away in the home on Thursday 5th December 2013 at the age of 95.
People gathered outside the property shortly afterwards and spent the night in vigil, singing songs in Celebration of his life.
Richard Gray, CEO of estate agency Harcourts SA, joined in the tributes today: ”We in the real estate industry should never forget that in democratising our society in SA, Mr Mandela also completely normalised and saved our housing market. But this is just one practical example of how his ideals of forgiveness and conciliation have given everyone in SA, and many others around the world, a completely different life than they might otherwise have had. He remains our biggest hero.”