Burger Street Jail, Pietermaritzburg

KwaZulu Natal Tourist Attractions

Burger Street Jail in Pietermaritzburg

Burger Street Jail © Heritage KwaZulu Natal

The Burger Street Jail was closed in 1989 and sections of the jail are open today for tours. The building is now run by Project Gateway, a Christian self-help project, and features a craft shop and coffee shop.

The original jail was built in 1862, replacing the Voortrekker jail on market square in Pietermaritzburg. It is one of the oldest government buildings and is unique because of its red brick and sandstone construction. The jail housed some 1800 prisoners, many of whom were awaiting trial.

A somewhat more gory feature is its gallows, with each block housing its own set. Those of E block were apparently used for public executions. Some of the more recent inhabitants included ANC leaders Harry Gwala and Archie Gumede, while King Dinuzulu was incarcerated at Burger Street after the Bhambatha uprising of 1906. The intention of Project Gateway is to uplift and empower local communities, with the coffee shop providing an opportunity to train in hospitality.

Burger Street Jail

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby see:
• Pietermaritzburg Accommodation
• Pietermaritzburg Hotels
• Pietermaritzburg Guest Houses
• Pietermaritzburg Bed & Breakfast
• Pietermaritzburg Self Catering

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Natal Midlands Accommodation.

Attractions / Activities nearby

Natal Museum

Situated just south of Pietermaritzburg’s City Hall in Jabu Ndlovu Street, the Natal Museum is one of South Africa’s five national museums, set in a particularly pretty building that dates back to 1905. The name, Natal Museum, which is in the process of changing in an attempt to reposition itself as it has shifted with the changes ... more information

Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens

One of eight national botanical gardens, Pietermaritzburg's Botanical Gardens occupy an ancient floodplain and hillside on the edge of a mist belt that creates an atmosphere, on days when the mists roll in, something like that of a Dickens novel. The city is not known as the City of Flowers for nothing, and private ... more information

Pietermaritzburg Railway Station

The attractive red brick Railway Station building in Railway Street in Pietermaritzburg dates from the Victorian era, and is notable for its contrasting stone facings and cast-iron lace work. Mahatma Ghandi was evicted from a train here in 1893, a famous incident which launched him on his political career.

Visiting Burger Street Jail?
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destinations / attractions in kwazulu natal