Freedom Park stands as a monument to democracy, which was founded on the values of human dignity, rights and freedom. It serves as a symbol of the tortuous journey to and the sacrifices made for freedom.
In 1999 Dr Nelson Mandela said, “…the day should not be far off, when we shall have a people’s shrine, a Freedom Park, where we shall honour with all the dignity they deserve, those who endured pain so we should experience the joy of freedom.” That day has arrived and, driven by the necessity for the diverse people of South Africa and the world to understand and appreciate the country’s struggle for liberation, Freedom Park was born as a national and international icon of humanity and freedom.
This week on Top Billing Lorna explores the inspiring creation that is Freedom Park. Join her as she learns more about the symbolism and elements that form its make up.
More about Freedom Park: The mandate of Freedom Park is the creation of a memorial and monument that will narrate a story spanning a period of 3.6 billion years through the following seven epochs: Earth, Ancestors, Peopling, Resistance and Colonisation, Industrialisation and Urbanisation, Nationalism and Struggle, Nation Building and Continent Building; as well as the Garden of Remembrance to acknowledge those that contributed to the freedom of the country. It is also home to the Wall of Names - an awe-inspiring structure (697m), inscribed with the names of those who died during eight conflicts within South Africa’s history.