Discover Alexandra through specific addresses and life stories: Mandela’s Yard recalls Nelson Mandela’s brief stay, while Piliso House reflects local architectural and family history. There are also tours and other places to visit.

Houses with biographical traces

Mandela’s Yard is a room in a house at 46 Seventh Avenue. Nelson Mandela lived there briefly in 1941 and 1942. The exact address and the two years mentioned make the historical connection concrete: it relates to a brief, clearly defined period in Mandela’s life.

Piliso House also connects Alexandra with personal stories. It was one of the first houses in the area to be financed through a mortgage. The house is the home of Topsy Piliso, a founding member of the Anti-TB Association, and was the home of the late saxophonist and composer Ntemi Piliso. Architecture, family history and musical biography thus come together in one place.

The Alexandra Heritage Centre offers another distinctive feature: its exhibition hall extends across the street. Together with the houses, it offers a view of the different ways in which history is tied to specific places in Alexandra.

Tours and other places to visit

Tours of Alexandra are available on foot, by bicycle or by minibus. Pick-up can be arranged at Marlboro Gautrain Station or at visitors’ hotel. When choosing, you can first decide based on the mode of transport and whether pick-up is available. Before making plans, check which tours and pick-up options are currently available for your travel dates.

The historical picture also includes memorial plaques at sites in Alexandra. Visitors can visit one of the men’s hostels; check the current access conditions in advance. Souvenirs can be bought at the open-air markets, and a traditional healer’s shop is also among the places to visit. St. Hubert Catholic Church is also listed as a place to visit. Alexandra also features a place where Samora Machel lived; he was the first president of independent Mozambique. The range of places therefore extends from memorial plaques and sites associated with people’s lives to a market, shop and church.

Additional perspectives in City Of Johannesburg

The wider destination of City Of Johannesburg offers another historical perspective. The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. Its permanent exhibition traces South Africa’s history from the dark days of oppression to a place of healing shaped by democratic principles. Constitution Hill houses South Africa’s Constitutional Court and, as a living museum, tells the story of the country’s journey to democracy. The Origins Centre uses interactive exhibitions to explore the origins of humankind in Africa, the development of technology, art, culture and symbolism, and South Africa’s diverse rock art traditions.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can factor these themes into your travel plans: would you like Alexandra, with its houses, places of remembrance and tours, to be the main focus, or would you also like to explore themes related to the wider destination of City Of Johannesburg?

Discover more destinations: Sandton, Lenasia, Johannesburg, Lethabong, Roodepoort, Pimville, Randburg, Lanseria.

Go to the wider travel overview: City Of Johannesburg.