Mahlamba Ndlopfu (formerly known as Libertas) is the chief
official residence
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of th ...
of the
President of the Republic of South Africa. The head of government has made it their official home since
1940
A calendar from 1940 according to the Gregorian calendar, factoring in the dates of Easter and related holidays, cannot be used again until the year 5280.
Events
Below, events related to World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
*Janu ...
and it is located in the
Bryntirion Estate in
Pretoria
Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country.
Pretoria strad ...
.
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
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
of the time,
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Jan Smuts
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, (baptismal name Jan Christiaan Smuts, 24 May 1870 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as P ...
. Since its creation, Mahlamba Ndlopfu has also hosted official visits from foreign heads of state, such as visits by
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...
, the
President of the French Republic
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the pos ...
, and
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
, the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
.
The current occupant of Mahlamba Ndlopfu is
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician serving as the 5th and current President of South Africa since 2018. A former Anti-Apartheid Movement, anti-apartheid activist and trade union leade ...
, 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. Gerard Moerdijk, already known for designing the
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria (, ) is a multi-campus public university, public research university in Pretoria, the administrative and ''de facto'' capital of South Africa. The university was established in 1908 as the Pretoria campus of the Johan ...
and the
Voortrekker Monument, convinced the jury appointed by the Department of Public Works.
Moerdijk decided to adopt the
Cape Dutch
Cape Dutch, also commonly known as Cape Afrikaners, were a historic socioeconomic class of Afrikaners who lived in the Western Cape during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The terms have been evoked to describe an affluent, educated sect ...
style, a type of traditional house common among
Boer
Boers ( ; ; ) are the descendants of the proto Afrikaans-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controlled the Dutch ...
and
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...
descendants in South Africa. 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
The Union of South Africa (; , ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day South Africa, Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the British Cape Colony, Cape, Colony of Natal, Natal, Tra ...
. 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
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but rat ...
of the
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa (; , ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day South Africa, Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the British Cape Colony, Cape, Colony of Natal, Natal, Tra ...
, which was a
dominion
A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...
under
the Crown
The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...
. The Prime Minister's other official residence was
Groote Schuur
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 acqu ...
, which is located in
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
. The Prime Minister was the head of government, while the
Governor-General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
, who defended the interests of
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, 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
A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
organised by Prime Minister
Hendrik Verwoerd
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (; 8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966), also known as H. F. Verwoerd, was a Dutch-born South African politician, scholar in applied psychology, philosophy, and sociology, and newspaper editor who was Prime Mini ...
the previous year. The country was forced to leave
the Commonwealth
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
because of its ''
apartheid
Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...
'' laws, to which the other former British colonies and the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
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
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, it sets out the human rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of th ...
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, 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
De Tuynhuys () is the office of the president of South Africa, located in Cape Town.
The building
The building has in various guises been associated with the seat of the highest political authority in the land for almost two and a half cen ...
and Westbrooke (since renamed
Genadendal) on the
Groote Schuur
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 acqu ...
estate in
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
and
King's House (since renamed Dr John Dube House) in
Durban
Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Situated on the east coast of South ...
.
Upon the end of ''
apartheid
Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...
'' 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
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
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
.
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'' (the "New Dawn" in
Tsonga language
Tsonga ( ) or Xitsonga as an endonym and exonym, endonym (also known as Changana in Mozambique), is a Bantu languages, Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people of South Africa and . It is mutually intelligible with Tswa language, Tswa a ...
). 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. 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
The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...
. He was passionate about architecture, especially the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
, so, after his studies in Pretoria, he went to
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
(''
École des Beaux Arts'') and
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
(British School of Archeology,
Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
).
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
South West Africa was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1990. Renamed ''Namibia'' by the United Nations in 1968, it became independent under this name on 21 March 1990.
South West Africa bordered Angola ( a Portu ...
. 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
Cape Dutch, also commonly known as Cape Afrikaners, were a historic socioeconomic class of Afrikaners who lived in the Western Cape during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The terms have been evoked to describe an affluent, educated sect ...
style, 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 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
A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
,
Oliver Tambo
Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo (27 October 191724 April 1993) was a South African anti-apartheid politician and activist who served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991.
Biography Childhood
Oliver Tambo was ...
House, is also located on the Bryntirion Estate.
Oliver Tambo House is currently occupied by
Paul Mashatile
Paulus Shipokosa Mashatile (born 21 October 1961) is a South African politician who is the 9th Deputy President of South Africa. He became Deputy President of the governing African National Congress (ANC) in December 2022. Before his election ...
, 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).
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 and several private swimming pools in Bryntirion. A
helipad
A helipad is the landing area of a heliport, in use by helicopters, powered lift, and vertical lift aircraft to land on surface.
While helicopters and powered lift aircraft are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fa ...
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
The RAND Corporation, doing business as RAND, is an American nonprofit global policy think tank, research institute, and public sector consulting firm. RAND engages in research and development (R&D) in several fields and industries. Since the ...
(USD12.8 million), which makes each metre worth 11,000 Rand.
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
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba, president ...
(Cuban leader) or
Al Gore
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American former politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He previously served as ...
(US Vice-President). Mandela therefore received many of his powerful guests in Mahlamba Ndlopfu after the ceremony.
In July 1994, the French President,
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...
, was the first foreign head of state to make an official state visit since 1947 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
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
(and formerly
Queen of South Africa
From 1910 to 1961 the Union of South Africa was a self-governing country that shared a monarch with the United Kingdom and other Dominions of the British Empire. The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the Governor-General ...
), the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
Chancellor
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (; 3 April 1930 – 16 June 2017) was a German politician who served as chancellor of Germany and governed the ''Federal Republic'' from 1982 to 1998. He was leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1973 to ...
, and the
U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
,
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...
.
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
[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.] 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
*
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Jan C. Smuts (1870–1950)
United Party. Occupant from 1940 to 1948.
* Prime Minister
Daniel F. Malan (1874–1959)
National Party. Occupant from 1948 to 1954
* Prime Minister
Johannes G. Strijdom (1893–1958) National Party. Occupant from 1954 to 1958.
* Prime Minister Hendrik F. Verwoerd (1901–1966) National Party. Occupant from 1958 to 1966.
* Prime Minister
Balthazar J. Vorster (1915–1983) National Party. Occupant from 1966 to 1978.
* Prime Minister and, later,
State President (from 1984)
Pieter W. Botha (1916–2006) National Party. Occupant from 1978 to 1989.
* State President
Jan C. Heunis (1927–2006) National Party. Occupant from January to March 1989.
* State President
Frederik Willem De Klerk (1936–2021) National Party. Occupant from 1989 to 1994.
* President Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa. It originated as a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid and has governed the country since 1994, when the 1994 South African general election, fir ...
. Occupant from 1994 to 1999.
* President
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who served as the 2nd democratic president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Cong ...
(born 1942) African National Congress. Occupant from 1999 to 2008.
* President
Kgalema Motlanthe
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe (; born 19 July 1949) is a South African politician who served as the 3rd president of South Africa from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki. Thereafter, he was deputy president und ...
(born 1949) African National Congress. Occupant from 2008 to 2009.
* President
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was a for ...
(born 1942) African National Congress. Occupant from 2009 to 2018.
* President Cyril Ramaphosa (born 1952) African National Congress. Occupant since 2018.
See also
*
Government Houses of South Africa
*
Government Houses of the British Empire
A Government House is any residence used by Governor-general, governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth and the British Empire. Government Houses serve as the venue for governors' official ...
*
Genadendal Residence
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 ...
*
List of Castles and Fortifications in South Africa
References
{{Presidential Palaces in Africa
Buildings and structures in Pretoria
Presidential residences in South Africa
Government of South Africa
1940 establishments in South Africa
Residential buildings in Gauteng
Residential buildings completed in 1940