Madiba Receives Visitors at His Home in Orlando West

© Dr Peter Magubane
Madiba receives visitors at his home in Orlando West.

Nelson Mandela returned to his home in Soweto after his release from prison in 1990. Nelson grew up in No. 8115 Vilakazi Street and has since been turned into a tribute style museum.

‘That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.’

He lived here with his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase and after they divorced Winnie moved in, in 1958. ‘It was the opposite of grand, but it was my first true home of my own and I was mightily proud. A man is not a man until he has a house of his own.’

After a brief 11 days spent in Soweto with family and friends who had welcomed him back he moved to his present house with Winnie, in Houghton, Johannesburg.

"There are so many men and women who hold no distinctive positions but whose contribution towards development of society has been enormous." ~ Nelson Mandela

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