Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 July 2018 – The now iconic residence of former president Nelson Mandela, where engagements that changed the course of the country’s history took place in Johannesburg, will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind experience for travellers who wish to take a reflective walk in the struggle icon’s shoes.

More than just a five-star experience at the heart of one of the city’s oldest suburbs, the project is the brainchild of a team which wished to give visitors a unique and immersive journey into the life of one of the world’s most recognised symbols of freedom and hope for humanity.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF), which owns the property, has partnered with Thebe Thebe Tourism Group (TTG) to revivify this iconic and quaint venue as a multi-purpose facility.  It will support scholarship and deep reflection at the same time as providing a unique experience for travellers and other visitors.

“Nelson Mandela was a traveller in his later life, who made a difference in the lives of those he met and those he travelled with. He had an impact on the places he touched and left a part of his beloved land wherever he went. May we continue to be the travellers who make a difference,” said Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Jerry Mabena, CEO of Thebe Tourism Group expressed the group’s pride in having the honour to take part in a project which would not only form part of some of the great tourism treasures in the world, but would also be a place, where leaders tasked with taking the world forward could draw inspiration from the values and principles from a man that not only changed South Africa but the rest of the world.

“We not only honour Nelson Mandela as the founder of the democratic state of SA – we also see this project as a reminder and tribute to ourselves that President Mandela is also one of Thebe’s founding fathers as an organisation. We, therefore, work to preserve his memory, values and principles. We are extremely excited at taking on a truly unique project with such an iconic status.”

Sanctuary Mandela is a 9-bedroom upmarket place of reflection set to be an iconic five-star establishment that offers guests a truly inspired Nelson Mandela home experience.

The concept of converting Nelson Mandela’s primary residence into a place of reflection, is to create an avenue that will provide visitors with additional insights into the Mandela heritage, through an experience that is inspired by the icon’s life and times while he resided and worked at the property.