About Mandela Square

Mandela Square, Sandton

Situated in the heart of Sandton in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Square is surrounded by world-class hotels and restaurants. The popular Sandton City Shopping Centre is adjacent to Mandela Square.

Did you know? Once you've booked your hotels or accommodation in Sandton, explore the destination pages for info on attractions, activities and things to do when you visit Sandton in Gauteng.

The Square made headlines when, commemorating South Africa’s first decade of democracy, a specially donated six metre bronze statue of Nelson Mandela had been unveiled, and the square aptly renamed Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City. The statue was sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jacob Maponyane and weighs over 2.5 tons measuring 2.3 metres from elbow to elbow. The shoulders of the statue are 1.7 metres in width and the shoes are 1 metre in length.

The intention of this statue is not only to honour the former president’s vision of a free and just South Africa, but also to create a focal point where local and foreign tourists can reflect over the events that led to the creation of the Rainbow Nation. Here, you will always see tourists desperately trying to get a photo of themselves standing next to this tall statue.

An already fashionable area with its sidewalk cafes, fine dining and some 93 exclusive shops, Nelson Mandela Square has become one of the most popular venues in South Africa. Its prime location in the heart of Sandton allows easy access to the financial district, the Sandton Convention Centre, superlative hotels and Sandton City’s 295 spectacular shops.

The Square was designed to bring to life an Italian styled piazza under the African sky. For a shopping delight, a gastronomic experience at any one of the world class restaurants or just a historical learning experience, a trip to Nelson Mandela Square is an absolute must! Whatever your reason for visiting Johannesburg, experience Nelson Mandela Square.