Enjoy Joburg’s heritage sites
AS THE country celebrated Human Rights Day yesterday, the Joburg tourism is encouraging residents and visitors to reflecting how tourism plays a crucial role in perpetuating our heritage and the stories of the human rights journey in the city.
“Celebrating Human Rights Day is critical in ensuring that we reflect on how far we have come and that it’s important to visit the attractions that remind us of our achievements as a city,” says Laura Vercueil, Joburg Tourism communication manager.
“Visiting places like Liliesleaf Farm, the Apartheid Museum, Vilakazi Street, the Hector Pieterson Memorial – and many more that Joburg has to offer – will deepen our appreciation for the human rights celebration that we currently enjoy as residents of South Africa and citizens of Joburg. These are places where we reflect and connect via our common humanity, rather than being divided by our differences,” she said.
Earlier this week, The Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre (JHGC), opened its world-class permanent exhibition. Joburg joins many of the great cities across the world which have their own centres of genocide remembrance.
This expertly curated exhibition explores the history of genocide in the 20th century with a focus on the case studies of the Holocaust and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Visitors explore history and moral choices through the voices of various role players – victims, perpetrators, resisters, rescuers and bystanders.
There is no charge to visit the centre which is fully funded by donations. It is open Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm and Sundays 9am – 3pm. Guided tours are offered. Address: 1 Duncombe Road, Forest Town https:// jhbholocaust.co.za
Another leading attraction in Joburg worth visiting during this month of Human Rights awareness is the Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory (www.nelsonmandela.org) - known and loved around the world for his commitment to peace, negotiation and reconciliation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa’s first democratically-elected president (1994 to 1999).