On the trail of Mandela’s long walk

The solemnity of 8115 Vilakazi Street must have something to do with its walls. Bullet ridden from frequent casual shots taken as part of intimidation campaigns by apartheid patrols, and also burnt by the same police, the red-bricked house is a sanctuary for deep reflection and meditation.

Unlike other monuments, guests at 8115 generally tour in silent respect or keep their chatter to a gentle whisper. The world-shaking impact of what those walls witnessed over the years, the tears of a family hounded and torn apart and the enduring legacy of the African courage fostered at 8115, is something that demands that one keeps their mouth shut and simply takes in the history.