Drakenstein Correctional Centre, building in South Africa
The Drakenstein Correctional Centre is a prison near the town of Paarl in South Africa, situated in a quiet valley by Wemmershoek. The facility is surrounded by open land and hills and operates today as a working prison with secure sections.
The site was originally a farm before being converted into a prison, and was later renamed from Victor Verster to Groot Drakenstein in 2000. It became famous as the location where Nelson Mandela was transferred in 1988 and released as a free man in 1990.
The name refers to the surrounding countryside that was once farmland in the region. Visitors can see the simple functional architecture of the buildings, which reflects this rural past.
Visitors view the facility from outside the gates, where a large statue of Nelson Mandela with a raised fist stands as an important landmark. The grounds are accessible by vehicle and the surrounding region provides space to walk and explore in a rural setting.
A large statue of Nelson Mandela stands at the gates marking where he took his first steps as a free man in 1990. The statue was a gift from businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who like Mandela also spent time imprisoned.
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