Five Years of Sanctuary Mandela

Where history lives. Where a new chapter began.

Five years ago, on 3 September 2021, Sanctuary Mandela opened its doors.

Opening a hotel is an achievement under any circumstances. Opening a luxury boutique hotel during a global pandemic was something else entirely.

But the story of Sanctuary Mandela began long before the first guest arrived.

It began with a historic Houghton home that had already lived an extraordinary life – and a vision to give that home a meaningful and sustainable future.

A Home Steeped in History

In 1992, Nelson Mandela moved into the house at 4 Thirteenth Avenue in Houghton, Johannesburg. He lived here until 1998, during South Africa’s transition to democracy and the early years of his presidency.

Within these walls, Madiba spent time with family and friends and welcomed political figures, dignitaries and guests from around the world.

After his marriage to Graça Machel in 1998, Madiba moved to another home nearby. The Thirteenth Avenue property later became the first home of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and included his post-presidential office.

As the Foundation grew and moved to larger premises, an important question remained: what should happen to this remarkable house?

The answer was not to allow its story to fade.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which owns the property, partnered with Thebe Tourism Group – now Motsamayi Tourism Group – to give the home a new purpose. Together, they envisioned a place where people could experience its history while helping to preserve Nelson Mandela’s legacy for generations to come.

 

The Beginning of a New Chapter

The project was formally announced on Mandela Day in July 2018, during the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, when the first sod was turned.

This was never simply a building to be renovated. The vision was to create an intimate boutique hotel and place of reflection that would retain the character and history of the property while allowing it to welcome people once again.

The building project began in 2019 and was expected to be completed in early 2020.

Then the world changed.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought construction to a standstill and created enormous uncertainty for the tourism and hospitality industries. Although the original concept for Sanctuary Mandela remained unchanged, the opening date had to be postponed several times as building work was delayed.

The team hoped to open in April 2021, but outstanding construction work still had to be completed. A certificate of occupation was finally received in early August, allowing Sanctuary Mandela to welcome its first guests on 3 September 2021.

Opening during such an uncertain period required patience, resilience and a continued belief in the purpose behind the project.

 

More Than a Boutique Hotel

Sanctuary Mandela did not open as a museum or a replica of the past. It opened as a living tribute – a place where history and hospitality could exist under the same roof.

Five years later, that distinction still matters.

Sanctuary Mandela was never created simply to preserve a building. It was created to preserve a connection: to a defining period in South African history, to the quieter moments behind an extraordinary public life and to the values Nelson Mandela carried throughout his life.

Today, guests can stay within Madiba’s former home, dine at Insights Restaurant and discover stories from his life through the Heritage House Tour. Experiences such as Dine Like Madiba offer another perspective on his life through food, storytelling and some of the dishes he enjoyed.

The property has also become a setting for Jazz Sundays, private celebrations, important conversations and gatherings that bring people together.

Original architectural features and carefully curated artworks sit alongside details inspired by Madiba’s life. Together, they offer insight into the person behind the public figure – the family man, host, leader and human being.

 

 

Welcoming Voices That Carry the Legacy Forward

One of the moments that made the team realise Sanctuary Mandela had become what they hoped it would be was the privilege of welcoming distinguished global leaders and human rights advocates connected to the Nelson Mandela Foundation Annual Lecture.

During Sanctuary Mandela’s first five years, these have included five successive Annual Lecture speakers:

• Fatou Bensouda, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in 2021
• Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, in 2022
• Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist, in 2023
• Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Prize in Literature laureate and novelist, in 2024
• Francesca Albanese, international human rights lawyer and United Nations Special Rapporteur, in 2025

Each has contributed to important international conversations about justice, equality, peace, leadership and our shared humanity – values closely connected to Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

 

Five Years of Remarkable Encounters

Since opening, guests from South Africa and around the world have crossed the threshold of this historic home.

The Sanctuary Mandela team has been humbled to welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa; Graça Machel; Sophie de Bruyn, the last surviving leader of the historic 1956 Women’s March; Tokyo Sexwale; filmmaker and producer Anant Singh; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and internationally recognised artists including Sir Elton John, Gregory Porter, PJ Morton and the late Abdullah Ibrahim.

Alongside these well-known names have been families, travellers, delegations and visitors, each arriving with a different reason for coming.

Some have come to experience a part of Nelson Mandela’s story. Some have come to discover another side of Johannesburg’s history. Others have stayed, shared a meal, attended an event or walked through the home on a Heritage House Tour.

Each encounter has become part of Sanctuary Mandela’s continuing story.

 

 

The People Behind Sanctuary Mandela

The fifth anniversary also belongs to the people who believed in the project before its doors opened and who remain part of its story today.

Limpho Monyamane of the Nelson Mandela Foundation continues to be involved, alongside original Sanctuary Mandela team members Sally-Anne Grinter, Kervin Richtenberg, Speech Mkwibiso and Nonkululeko Maduba.

Mordecai Brauns joined Sanctuary Mandela as Sous Chef and has since progressed to the position of Head Chef – an achievement that reflects his commitment and the opportunity for people to grow alongside the property.

Their continued involvement provides an important connection between the original vision and the experience guests encounter today.

We also acknowledge every team member, partner and supporter who has contributed over the past five years. Their knowledge, warmth and dedication have helped turn a historic property into a place that feels both significant and welcoming.

Heritage Is Personal

Sanctuary Mandela’s fifth anniversary takes place during Heritage Month in South Africa, making the occasion particularly meaningful.

Heritage is not only found in dates, buildings or objects. It is carried through stories, food, memory and human connection. It remains alive when people continue to engage with it and find relevance in it.

For five years, Sanctuary Mandela has had the privilege of welcoming people into a place where the story of one of the world’s most respected leaders can be experienced rather than simply read.

For that, we are deeply grateful – to our guests, our team, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Motsamayi Tourism Group and everyone who believed that this home still had something to give.

Looking Towards the Next Five Years

As Sanctuary Mandela enters its next chapter, its purpose remains clear: to continue contributing, collectively and meaningfully, to the preservation of Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

We hope to welcome many more guests in a way that reflects aspects of Madiba’s life and values, within a place he once called home.

Five years after opening, Sanctuary Mandela remains a place to stay, dine, gather and reflect.

Above all, it remains a place where history lives – and where Nelson Mandela’s legacy continues to be shared.