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TThe Nelson Mandela Square is a shopping and restaurant hub in Sandton, Johannesburg. In the outdoor square, or piazza, you will find a 6m-tall statue of Nelson Mandela sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jacob Maponyane – an imposing reminder of South Africa’s favourite grandfather who continues to inspire.
The Nelson Mandela Square is a vibrant hub in the heart of Johannesburg's upmarket Sandton suburb in Gauteng. Attached to Sandton City Shopping Mall, the square is a great place to enjoy Johannesburg's vibrant urban spaces. The square consists of a wide variety of upmarket shops and restaurants, and the central area is a popular venue for alfresco dining. The iconic Nelson Mandela statue is a focal point of this outdoor square.
Did You Know?
TThe shoes on the Nelson Mandela statue are almost 1m in length.
SSandton is the commercial, business and entertainment Mecca of South Africa from where more than 10 000 businesses operate. Among these are the country’s top investment banks, corporate head offices and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Sandton is surrounded by South Africa's most affluent residential suburbs where more than 300 000 residents live and make use of the Sandton business hub.
Nelson Mandela Square
TThe square is a European-styled piazza that marries international style and African hospitality. It attracts locals and visitors to its sidewalk cafes and premier restaurants – French, Greek, Italian and African. Around one million local and international visitors make use of this shopping extravaganza every month, buying anything from curios to couture, art, books, jewellery and hi-tech.The square is also used as a venue for a variety of prestigious events.
The Nelson Mandela Square was previously known as the Sandton Square, until the centre's 10th birthday celebrations and the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela statue on 31 March 2004 to coincide with 10 years of democracy in South Africa. The statue was commissioned in July 2002 and completed in 2004.
AAt the time of its unveiling, the statue received mixed reactions from all quarters – some loved it, some hated it and some thought it was just a little over the top. Certainly, the proportions of this statue cannot be ignored: apart from its height, it is 2.3m wide and has a shoulder width of 1.7m!
Visitors to the Nelson Mandela Square can't help but have themselves photographed next to the imposing statue of Madiba and it certainly provides a talking point for the many diners who sit on the square to enjoy a meal under the African skies.
The square is also a great place for those with kids, and the water fountains provide hours of fun and amusement for the little ones. For adults in need of some retail therapy, there over 300 shops in the vicinity. For a spot of local culture, the Old Mutual Theatre on the square is a good place to be.
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