Constitution Hill, May 13th

We took a brief tour of Constitution Hill, which included the history of Old Fort Prison and the Constitutional Court. The tour emphasized the human rights violations that took place. This site serves a purpose of memorializing and truth-telling. I was struck by the diet differences and the process of ‘tausa’. Diet differences occurred along racial lines. The white prisoners were the best feed. The black prisoners were poorly fed but did get a supplement sugar based food for energy. This supplement in the prison wardens’ minds served the purpose of energizing the black prisoners who were the only ones that labored at the prison. This rationale dehumanizes the prisoners as laborers. The process of ‘tausa’ was also dehumanizes. Prisoners were searched naked as the other prisoners watched on. The tour grounded a history of human rights violations. Such violations are to be remembered but not to happen again under the new constitution.

The Constitutional Court itself was rich in symbolism. The symbol of the court illustrates the idea of justice under the tree. The lobby has pillars representing trunks and metal leaves hanging from the ceiling. There are notions of awareness and inclusion in this symbol. Everyone can be included because the base of the tree is not closed off. Similarly, the view of those under the tree is not obscured. My current understanding of the reconciliation process is one of awareness of others, the past and the present. Furthermore, everyone needs to be involved and feel included in the process. The tree is a wonderful symbol of these ideas.

Another symbol is the nguni cattle hides. Each of the eleven judges has an nguni hide hanging in front of where they sit. The nguni represents national pride because they are an indigenous cattle found only in South Africa. The general black background of the hides represents equality, and the white ‘blotchy stripe’ represents individuality and choice. Together, there is a sense of national identity with the land of South Africa through the use of a natural resource. Balancing equality and individual choice does not seem like an easy prospect. One example of striving to achieve this balance could be the eleven official languages. I have noticed tremendous efforts in putting text in all eleven languages. Furthermore, there is use of sign language and Braille. One of the judges is blind and several are female. There is a conscious effort at diversity. After some disabilities studies this past spring semester, I feel that there may be more conscious strides at inclusion of the disabled in South Africa (one reason will be discussed in reference to the Apartheid Museum).

Another symbol is the red bricks. Bricks from the waiting area of Old Fort Prison where used in constructing the walls of the Constitutional Court. The past becomes incorporated with the present. There is not covering or trying to forget but purposeful incorporating, remembering and memorializing. The present is built on the past. The present hearings that represent a respect for human rights through the constitution are built on the human rights violations and prison experiences of the past. One final symbol from the Constitutional Court is the band of glass to represent transparency. There is a reminder of the world outside and the South African people. This mindfulness is appropriate to reconciliation because it emphasizes the community and inclusion. Reconciliation looks at the involvement of everyone and the band of glass keeps this notion in mind.