Mahlamba Ndlopfu

Last updated

Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Former namesLibertas
Alternative namesEnglish: "The New Dawn"
General information
Architectural style Cape Dutch architecture
Location Bryntirion Estate, Pretoria
Country South Africa
Coordinates 25°44′16″S28°13′36″E / 25.7377612°S 28.2265393°E / -25.7377612; 28.2265393
Current tenantsCyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa
Opened1940;84 years ago (1940)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Gerard Moerdijk
Website
thepresidency.gov.za

Mahlamba Ndlopfu (formerly known as Libertas) is the chief official residence of the President of the Republic of South Africa. The head of government has made it their official home since 1940 and it is located in the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria.

Contents

Libertas, since 1994 known as Mahlamba Ndlopfu, in 1934 by Gerard Moerdijk designed as official residence in Pretoria for the state of the Union of South Africa. - panoramio.jpg

The building was built in 1940 and was designed by Gerard Moerdijk, a South African architect, to be the official residence in Pretoria of the Prime Minister of the time, General Jan Smuts. Since its creation, Mahlamba Ndlopfu has also hosted official visits from foreign heads of state, such as visits by François Mitterrand, the President of the French Republic, and Barack Obama, the President of the United States.

The current occupant of Mahlamba Ndlopfu is Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa since February 14, 2018.

History

Origin and construction

In the late 1930s, Prime Minister Jan Smuts and his government organised a national competition to select the architect who would lead the construction of the new official residence in Pretoria of the South African head of government. [1] Gerard Moerdijk, already known for designing the University of Pretoria and the Voortrekker Monument, convinced the jury appointed by the Department of Public Works.

Moerdijk decided to adopt the Cape Dutch style, a type of traditional house common among Boer and Afrikaans descendants in South Africa. [2] However, he adapted this style to a more luxurious context so that the place could express the charm and power of the Union of South Africa. Jan Smuts was the first head of government to settle in this residence which was then called Libertas (freedom in Latin).

Historical evolution

From 1940 to 1961, Libertas was the chief official residence of the Prime Ministers of the Union of South Africa, which was a dominion under the Crown. The Prime Minister's other official residence was Groote Schuur, which is located in Cape Town. The Prime Minister was the head of government, while the Governor-General, who defended the interests of London, [3] represented the British monarch, the monarch being the Sovereign and Head of State.

On 31 May 1961, the Union officially became the Republic of South Africa, following a referendum organised by Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd the previous year. [4] The country was forced to leave the Commonwealth because of its apartheid laws, to which the other former British colonies and the United Kingdom were hostile. The Royal positions and titles disappeared, and the role of head of state was transferred to the newly elected State President of the Republic of South Africa.

In September 1983, Libertas experienced a great change with the adoption of the new South African constitution during the mandate of Prime Minister P.W. Botha. The new constitution officially came into force the following year, in September 1984. The position of Prime Minister was abolished, [5] while the State President was now the head of government as well as being the head of state. After that, Libertas became one of the official residences of the State President, along with Tuynhuys and Westbrooke (since renamed Genadendal) on the Groote Schuur estate in Cape Town and King's House (since renamed Dr John Dube House) in Durban.

Upon the end of apartheid in May 1994, the office of State President was abolished. It was replaced with the office of President of the Republic of South Africa. Libertas, Tuynhuys, Genadendal and King's House continued to be official residences of the new office of President. .

The house of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela-2008 (edit).jpg

The first multiracial election was held in 1994 and Nelson Madiba Mandela was elected President of the Republic of South Africa (62.6% of the vote). He became the first black head of state in South Africa.

During his term of office, President Mandela attached great importance to the symbols of African culture. His election made it possible to re-Africanise a country hitherto dominated by the white minority. He thus decided to rename Libertas as Mahlamba Ndlopfu [6] (the "New Dawn" in Tsonga language). According to his vision, this place was to become a symbol of the growing African heritage and influence in the country.

Mahlamba Ndlopfu in the 21st century

Since May 1994, Mahlamba Ndlopfu has been a symbol of African empowerment in South Africa, and all the Presidents elected since Mandela have come from the black community. [7] The site and its gardens are subject to daily maintenance and constant renovation in order to place the President and his government in the best possible conditions.

Architecture

Gerard Moerdijk, the architect

The architect of Libertas was Gerard Moerdijk (1890–1958). He came from a family of Dutch immigrants and was even deported during the Second Boer War. He was passionate about architecture, especially the Renaissance, [8] so, after his studies in Pretoria, he went to France ( École des Beaux Arts ) and Italy (British School of Archeology, Rome).

Upon his return in 1913, he specialised in the realisation of churches with a special touch, since he did not follow the traditional method. He received nearly 80 orders for churches in South Africa, but also in the Rhodesias and South-West Africa. Moerdjik was particularly interested in Greek theatres. His most famous masterpiece is the commemorative Voortrekker Monument, completed in 1949.

In order to realise Libertas, Gerard Moerdijk won a competition organised by the Public Works Department and Prime Minister Jan Smuts.

Cape-Dutch style

Libertas was built in the atypical style of Gerard Moerdijk, mixing classical European architecture with colonial and African influences. It was mainly inspired by the Cape Dutch style, [9] an architecture specific to the settlers, especially farmers, established in South Africa. It was brought by the Dutch and re-used by the British in the Cape region.

The white colour of the walls of Mahlamba Ndlopfu is inspired from the 18th century Boer [10] farms in the Cape area. The flourishing nature around is also part of the Cape Dutch environment, although Moerdijk wanted to keep a structured garden around the residence. The architect also insisted on modernising the techniques and limited the use of woods which was not resistant enough for such a construction.

The Bryntirion Estate

Mahlamba Ndlopfu was built on the Bryntirion Estate. Besides the Presidential residence, the official residence of the Deputy President, Oliver Tambo House, [11] is also located on the Bryntirion Estate. Oliver Tambo House is currently occupied by Paul Mashatile, Ramaphosa’s Deputy President since 2023. The estate also incorporates a Presidential guest house and official residences for several Cabinet ministers. In total the zone contains 28 properties (called erfs ), and they are all owned by the Republic of South Africa (except for erf 16 [12] ).

The estate is 107 hectares (264 acres) and its infrastructures allow the government officials spare-time activities. There are 15 tennis courts, a 9-hole Presidential golf course [13] and several private swimming pools in Bryntirion. A helipad was also built in order to facilitate governmental travelling.

Because of its political importance, the Bryntirion Estate is a highly protected place. The security system is made of 202 surveillance cameras, 4 massive gatehouses and 8.1km of anti-climb motion detection fences which were built in 2007. The fences eventually cost 90 million Rand (USD12.8 million), which makes each metre worth 11,000 Rand. [14]

Political influence

Place of power

As the chief official Presidential residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu is not only useful as a house to live in. It is also the place where the President holds his meetings with the important government representatives, and where he sometimes invites his foreign equivalents.

In 1994, when Nelson Mandela became President of the Republic of South Africa, an important inauguration ceremony was organised at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. He decided to invite his political friends from all around the world such as Fidel Castro (Cuban leader) or Al Gore (US Vice-President). [15] Mandela therefore received many of his powerful guests in Mahlamba Ndlopfu after the ceremony. [16]

In July 1994, the French President, François Mitterrand, was the first foreign head of state to make an official state visit since 1947 [17] and was eventually invited to Mahlamba Ndlopfu. Because of the apartheid system, international political leaders refused to go to South Africa until the election of Mandela. Many influential figures followed Mitterrand, such as Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (and formerly Queen of South Africa), the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and the U.S. President, Bill Clinton.

Symbolic place

Mahlamba Ndlopfu as an embodiment of South African Presidential power has had a great symbolic value over time.

First, the use of the architectural Cape Dutch style, which was used to build Libertas in 1940, was picked for its important symbolic value. It was chosen to prove that the place where the head of government lived was marked with colonial heritage. It was at the same time honouring the ancestors of the white minority of South Africa, and the typical style of the region. The name Libertas was chosen in order to highlight the value of freedom.

Moreover, this place became an important symbol of the African influence when it changed its name during President Mandela’s term. Indeed, Mandela gave a significant importance to the Africanisation [18] of the country which had been dominated by colonial descendants for decades. Africanisation led to symbolic changes like the inclusion of African history on the education programme, the new South African flag, and the changing of the Libertas name to Mahlamba Ndlopfu.

Occupants


See also


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretoria</span> Administrative capital of South Africa

Pretoria, is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Smuts</span> South African statesman and military leader (1870–1950)

Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and 1939 to 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. G. Strijdom</span> Prime Minister of South Africa from 1954 to 1958

Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, also known as Hans Strijdom and nicknamed the Lion of the North or the Lion of Waterberg, was a South African politician and the fifth prime minister of South Africa from 30 November 1954 to his death on 24 August 1958. He was an uncompromising Afrikaner nationalist and a member of the largest, baasskap faction of the National Party (NP), who further accentuated the NP's apartheid policies and break with the Union of South Africa in favour of a republic during his rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voortrekker Monument</span> Monument in Pretoria, South Africa

The Voortrekker Monument is located just south of Pretoria in South Africa. The granite structure is located on a hilltop, and was raised to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854. It was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Buildings</span> Seat of the South African Government

The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjeskop at the northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square. The large gardens of the Buildings are nestled between Government Avenue, Vermeulen Street East, Church Street, the R104 and Blackwood Street. Fairview Avenue is a closed road through which only officials can enter the Union Buildings. Though not in the centre of Pretoria, the Union Buildings occupy the highest point of Pretoria, and constitute a South African national heritage site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afrikaner Broederbond</span> 1918–1994 Afrikaner Calvinist male organisation in South Africa

The Afrikaner Broederbond (AB) or simply the Broederbond was an exclusively Afrikaner Calvinist and male secret society in South Africa dedicated to the advancement of the Afrikaner people. It was founded by H. J. Klopper, H. W. van der Merwe, D. H. C. du Plessis and the Rev. Jozua Naudé in 1918 as Jong Zuid Afrika until 1920, when it was renamed the Broederbond. Its influence within South African political and social life came to a climax with the 1948-1994 rule of the white supremacist National Party and its policy of apartheid, which was largely developed and implemented by Broederbond members. Between 1948 and 1994, many prominent figures of Afrikaner political, cultural, and religious life, including every leader of the South African government, were members of the Afrikaner Broederbond.

Modimolle, also known as Nylstroom, is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming as well as wildlife and tourism. Nylstroom is also located approximately 135 kilometres north of Pretoria, South Africa's capital city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uitenhage</span> Place in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Uitenhage, officially renamed Kariega, is a South African town in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. Along with the city of Port Elizabeth and the small town of Despatch, it forms the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

The Cabinet of South Africa is the most senior level of the executive branch of the Government of South Africa. It is made up of the president, the deputy president, and the ministers.

1990 in South Africa saw the official start of the process of ending Apartheid. President of South Africa, eid. President F.W. de Klerk unbanned organisations that were banned by the government including the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and the Pan Africanist Congress. The African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe, suspends its armed activity within South Africa. Political prisoners including Nelson Mandela were released. Nelson Mandela met ANC leader Oliver Tambo for the first time in 28 years at a meeting in Sweden. Mandela also traveled to England to thank the people for their support in the campaign to free him. South Africa withdrew its troops from Namibia, which was granted independence. 1990 also saw marches in support and against the formation of a new post-Apartheid South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Groote Schuur</span> Historical estate in Cape Town, now a museum

Groote Schuur is an estate in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1657, the estate was owned by the Dutch East India Company which used it partly as a granary. Later, the farm and farmhouse was sold into private hands. Groote Schuur was later acquired by William De Smidt, and remained in the family's possession until it was sold by Abraham De Smidt, Surveyor General of the Cape Colony, in 1878, and was bought by Hester Anna van der Byl of the prominent Van Der Byl / Coetsee family. In 1891 Cecil Rhodes leased it from her. He later bought it from her in 1893 for £60 000, and had it converted and refurbished by the architect Sir Herbert Baker. The Cape Dutch building, located in Rondebosch, on the slopes of Devil's Peak, the outlying shoulder of Table Mountain, was originally part of the Dutch East India Company's granary constructed in the seventeenth century.

Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM was a prominent South African and Commonwealth statesman and military leader. He served as a Boer general during the Boer War, a British general during the First World War and was appointed field marshal during the Second World War. In addition to various cabinet appointments, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and from 1939 to 1948. He played a leading part in the post war settlements at the end of both world wars, making significant contributions towards the creation of both the League of Nations and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Modise</span> South African politician (1929–2001)

Johannes "Joe" Modise was a South African political figure. He helped to found uMkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, and was its longest serving Commander in Chief, deputised at different points in time by Joe Slovo and Chris Hani. Modise headed MK for a 25-year period, from 1965 to 1990. He served as South Africa's first black Minister of Defence from 1994 to 1999 and led the formation of the post-independence defence force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerard Moerdijk</span> South African architect (1890–1958)

Gerard Leendert Pieter Moerdijk, also known as Gerard Moerdyk, was a South African architect best known for designing the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–South Africa relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa. Both nations are members of the BRICS, Cairns Group, G20, Group of 24, Group of 77 and the United Nations.

Libertas is the Roman goddess and personification of liberty.

Bryntirion Estate is an estate in Pretoria, South Africa. It incorporates the Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence of the president of South Africa, the vice president's residence, the presidential guest house, many homes of cabinet ministers, 15 tennis courts, and a 9 hole presidential golf course with a helipad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Netherlands–South Africa relations</span> Bilateral relations

Netherlands–South Africa refers to the current and historical relations between the Netherlands and South Africa. Both nations share historic ties and have a long-standing special relationship, partly due to the Dutch colony in the Cape, linguistic similarity between Dutch and Afrikaans and the Netherlands' staunch support in the struggle against Apartheid.

Genadendal Residence is the official Cape Town residence of the president of South Africa, situated on the Groote Schuur estate in Rondebosch. It has been the official residence since 1994 when Nelson Mandela took up residence here rather than the main Groote Schuur manor house. The mixed Victorian-Georgian residence, formerly known as Westbrooke, is named after the town of Genadendal – itself an Afrikaans word meaning "Valley of Mercy", until it was changed to the current name in 1995.

References

  1. Official website of the Republic South Africa's presidency – Mahlamba Ndlopfu http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/content/mahlamba-ndlopfu
  2. 2 Roger Charles Fisher, Gerard Moerdijk – death and memorializing in his artchitectural for the Afrikaner nationalist project, (2010) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228344782_Gerard_Moerdijk- death_and_memorializing_in_his_architecture_for_the_Afrikaner_nationalist_project
  3. Adam Yamey, Academia: Unification of South Africa in 1910 https://www.academia.edu/10429698/Unification_of_South_Africa_1910?auto=download
  4. SA History Online : “Republic of South Africa Established” (2011) https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/republic-south-africa-established
  5. South African Government Website : “Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 110 of 1983” - Art. 102.2b https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/republic-south-africa-constitution-act-110-1983
  6. Tony Trew, Transcript of interview with Jessie Duarte, Johannesburg, 2014 https://archive.nelsonmandela.org/uploads/r/nelson-mandela-centre-of-memory-south- africa/6/e/7/6e7640ac75c833e7b9707f9cd0b57b1e1343b98994da78861a37b02be5743e89/8fd6abd5-2938- 4349-b94d-92c8c41be6e1-TPY_2_Transcript_Jesse_Duarte.pdf
  7. World Presidents: List of South African Presidents https://www.worldpresidentsdb.com/list/countries/South-Africa/
  8. Roger C. Fisher, Gerard Moerdijk : The Formative Years, University of Pretoria https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/7933/Fisher_Gerard(2003).pdf?sequence=5
  9. Artefacts: ”Mahlamba Ndlopfu (was Libertas) Artefacts: ”Mahlamba Ndlopfu (was Libertas)” https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes.php?bldgid=7339
  10. Waybackmachine: Cape Dutch Architecture, June 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060618001306/http://www.encounter.co.za/article/19.html
  11. Presidential Website: Oliver Tambo House http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/content/oliver-tambo-house
  12. Erf 16 Bryntirion http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAGPPHC/2010/154.html
  13. Presidential Gold Estate https://web.archive.org/web/20120302070843/http://www.secelec.co.za/projects/project2.htm
  14. Mbeki's R90 millions wall https://web.archive.org/web/20070222081321/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0%2C%2C2-7-12_2071893%2C00.html
  15. History: Mandela's inauguration day, 1994 https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nelson-mandela-inaugurated
  16. 6 Tony Trew, Transcript of interview with Jessie Duarte, Johannesburg, 2014 https://archive.nelsonmandela.org/uploads/r/nelson-mandela-centre-of-memory-south-africa/6/e/7/6e7640ac75c833e7b9707f9cd0b57b1e1343b98994da78861a37b02be5743e89/8fd6abd5-2938-4349-b94d-92c8c41be6e1-TPY_2_Transcript_Jessie_Duarte.pdf
  17. "Rencontre Nelson Mandela / François Mitterrand"
  18. Africanisation: Louw, W. 2010, A rich environment for active learning on a global platform : University of South Africa http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10500/4999/Africanisation.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1#:~:text=Ramose%20(1998)%20describes%20Africanisation%20as,right%20to%20be%20an%20African'.&text=It%20is%20a%20situation%20that,in%20higher%20education%20in%20particular.