Commemorating the 2009 world press freedom day in Johannesburg

It was very great pleasures to Congo Renaissance that Constitution Hill had agree to offer us a space on May 2, 2009 to commemorate the world press freedom day. The choice of the venue was very significant to us. Indeed, the Constitution Hill is a national heritage site which has witnessed a century of South African history from rebellious British soldiers who fought with the Boers to the new and post apartheid South Africa. During the Apartheid era Constitution Hill did serve as a prison and a place to restrain some human rights. Some key figures of South African politics paid the price by being incarcerated in some of its cells, eg. in December 1956, before being transferred to Pretoria Nelson Mandela spent two weeks in the Awaiting Trial Block now demolished. In August 1962, Mandela again spent a few weeks in the Old Fort hospital at the Hill. Since 1994, the place is home to the constitutional court of South Africa and besides that it now serves as venue for talks, seminars workshops, exhibitions, etc.

With this venue offering such an historical meaning, Congo Renaissance could not find any better to hold a workshop on the world press freedom. The venue of the day was the Women’s Jail where about 30 people met for the event. I went for the moderation and Dede Mengi, Congo Renaissance’s Deputy President made the ... Read more