Walter Sisulu Square of dedication, Freedom memorial complex in Kliptown, South Africa

Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication is a paved public square in Kliptown, Soweto, centred on a conical brick tower. The tower holds the ten principles of the Freedom Charter engraved in bronze, and ten vertical columns along the eastern edge each carry one of these principles. An open-air museum explains how the charter was drafted, and the surrounding complex includes market areas, shops and a multipurpose hall.

This location hosted the Freedom Charter Congress in June 1955, where more than 2800 delegates gathered to create and adopt this defining document. The event marked a pivotal moment in resistance to apartheid.

The square is named after Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu, an ANC activist who served as the organisation's Secretary-General and Deputy President and was released from prison in 1989. The open-air museum on site explains how the Freedom Charter was drafted as a collaborative effort by thousands of South Africans of all races.

The square is walkable and straightforward to navigate, with open areas and marked pathways for visitors. Nearby shops and cafes offer refreshments and snacks if you want to spend time here comfortably.

Ten vertical columns line the eastern edge, each one embodying a core value from the Freedom Charter document. These pillars form a visual statement representing the document's fundamental principles.