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The Palace of Justice forms part of the northern façade of Church Square in Pretoria. The building dates to the nineteenth century and was designed by the Dutch architect Sytze Wierda. It is currently the headquarters of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa .
Facing the northern façade of Church Square in Pretoria, the Palace of Justice tells a remarkable story of an unswerving anti-apartheid movement, the birth of the Freedom Charter as well as one of the world’s most iconic speeches to date.
- Plead (guilty of getting goosebumps after seeing the dock where Madiba declared: ‘I am prepared to die’) More than fifty years ago, Nelson Mandela gave one of the most impassioned speeches of the 20 century while standing in the dock and staring at death in the face during the Rivonia trial.
- Directly examine (messages left by anti-apartheid revolutionaries) Fourteen steps below the famous dock and in the bowels of Palace of Justice is an austere corridor leading to the holding cells where Madiba and his fellow accused were detained.
- Subpoena (a rich past) Dating back to 1897, it’s no surprise the Palace of Justice is trove of South Africa’s colourful past. Four years after then-President of the Transvaal Republic Paul Kruger laid the foundation stone, the palace – worth £115 260 – was open for business.
- Confess (to falling in love with 19 century architecture) Designed by Dutch architect Sytze Wierda and built by John Munro, the palace – which stands on two erven (stands) - is a monument to colonial opulence with an eclectic Wilhelmiens style and Italianate influences.
The Palace of Justice in Pretoria, designed by Dutch architect Sytze Wierda, is a blend of British and Dutch architectural styles. Serving temporarily as a hospital during the Second Boer War, this historical landmark in Church Square now houses the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, embodying Pretoria's rich history and evolution.
The Palace of Justice cost £115 260, and the contractor was John Munro, at that time Pretoria's leading builder. The interior is resplendent with polished wood, brass, stained glass, tiled floors and the many trappings that were the prestige symbols of an emergent state during the latter years of the 19th century.
Jul 14, 2011 · Several historical and architectual significant buildings surround the square: The Palace Of Justice, the Old Capitol Theatre, the Tudor Chambers, the Ou Raadsaal (the Old Chambers) and the General Post Office, designed by William Hawke. Market- Produce was conveyed to the Market Square by wagon, where their owners' oxen were also outspanned.
Built in the Eclectic Wilhelmiens style, with Italianate influences, the construction of The Palace of Justice was interrupted by the Anglo-Boer War, with the final fittings and decorations only being completed in 1901. The building has played host to many important trials, including the Rivonia Trail of 1964 at which Nelson Mandela and other ...
