19 Jul Mandela former Houghton residence envisioned as Presidential Centre
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 Property Asset Management (TPAM) and 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.
“Today, on his birthday, we mark the inauguration of the property refurbishment project to make The Mandela Presidential Centre a reality. 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.”
The project’s professional team, led by TPAM also includes Maru Spaces Architects; Kim h Interiors; Aurecon and MWV Engineers; GD Irons Construction; Kiwango Quantity Surveyors and Upper Level Town Planning. Khensani Heritage Consulting will be managing the preservation of Madiba’s heritage on the site.
Post construction, Thebe Tourism Group as an expert in managing iconic destinations in partnership with other service providers, has teamed up with an award-winning black woman owned hotel operator, Miarestate, to operate The Mandela Presidential Centre.
Nelson Mandela. Photo credit: Nelson Mandela Foundation; Matthew Willman
About the Nelson Mandela Foundation
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a not for profit organisation focused on memory, dialogue and legacy work, founded by Nelson Mandela in 1999. They are the custodian of his life and times; a committed facilitator of his living legacy; and they are mandated to promote his lifelong vision of freedom and equality for all.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation delivers to the world an integrated, dynamic and trusted resource on the legacy of Nelson Mandela and, with this, their mandate to promote his vision and work by convening dialogues and creating platforms for engagement around critical issues to promote social justice.
Their vision, like that of their founder, Nelson Mandela, and the movement he spearheaded, is to contribute to the making of a just society that remembers its past, listens to all voices, and pursues social justice for all.
About Thebe Tourism Group
Thebe Tourism Group is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation. The group was Formed in 2001 and is recognized as the oldest black-empowered South African tourism group with a significant portfolio in tourism and related industries ranging from attractions, inbound and outbound tourism, group travel and with a keen interest on developing the domestic tourism sector.
Thebe Tourism Group aims to offer innovative, integrated, market-driven products; the group of companies are focused on making tourism accessible to all and ensuring responsible tourism is practised throughout all businesses.
About Thebe Property Asset Management
Thebe Property Asset Management was established in 2011 and seeks to encourage the transformation and normalisation of the South African property sector by creating opportunities for black property developers through partnerships and joint ventures. Through ownership intervention TPAM, as an empowered entity, is able to take transformational decisions and support BEE imperatives such as skills development, enterprise and supplier development.
TPAM that holds the property interest of Thebe Investment Corporation and owns all property opportunities either directly or through Special Purpose Vehicles on a wholly owned basis or in partnership with other investors.
TPAM strives to optimally manage property portfolios to achieve growth in revenue and asset value.
For queries, please contact:
Judiet Barnes
Marketing Manager
Thebe Tourism Group
+27 (0)84 701 1717