GRAND PARADE

Grand Parade is the name of the square planted with palm trees located between City Hall and the Castle of Good Hope. It was here that Jan Van Riebeck built the first colonial fort in 1652, made of clay and wood. A remnant of this fort was found during the redevelopment of Grand Parade in 2009. At that time and for many centuries, military parades and public executions were held on this square. The largest multiracial anti-apartheid rally was held here on September 14, 1989.

It was here again, from the^first-floor balcony, that Nelson Mandela made his famous first speech upon his release from Robben Island Prison on 11 February 1990, after 27 years of confinement. That Sunday, 70,000 people had spontaneously gathered to celebrate the release of "Madiba". "Amandla! Afrika! "he threw up his arms to the sky before an emotional crowd who responded with a jubilant "Awethu! "which means "Africa's power to the people" in Xhosa and Zulu. Slogans that had long been shouted at meetings of the ANC, the African National Congress, and were finally becoming reality.

Finally, it was also here that a huge crowd followed the 2010 World Cup football matches on giant screens. Another great moment of emotion for a nation gathered around the football. Although it is pleasant to walk on the cobblestones of these historic meetings, for security reasons, you should avoid walking around in the evening after 5pm.