Constitution Hill, Johannesburg: Tours, Prices and Prison History

Constitution Hill, Johannesburg: Tours, Prices and Prison History: History & Culture

Discover Constitution Hill, Johannesburg: Tours, Prices and Prison History

Constitution Hill is a former prison complex in Braamfontein, on the western edge of Hillbrow in central Johannesburg. Today it is home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court. You’ll find it on the corner of Kotze Street and Queens Road. It’s open daily from 08:45 to 17:00, and you see it on a guided tour. A one-hour Highlights tour costs R150 for adults. Since 2024 it has been one of the 14 Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites that together form a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Why Constitution Hill matters

Few places in South Africa show the country’s journey from oppression to democracy as clearly as this hill. For almost a century it was a prison that held ordinary criminals and some of the most important political prisoners in the country’s history. Now the Constitutional Court stands on the same ground. It is the court that protects the rights once denied inside these walls.

From fort to prison

The first prison went up in 1892 and held white male prisoners. Between 1896 and 1899, Paul Kruger built the Old Fort around it to defend the South African Republic (ZAR). Separate sections for Black prisoners followed, known as Number Four (Section 4) and Section 5. The Women’s Gaol was added in 1907. The site was declared a National Monument in 1964, and the prison closed in 1983.

Notable prisoners

Many figures who shaped South Africa’s history were held here, including:

• Mahatma Gandhi, in 1906
• Nelson Mandela, while awaiting trial in 1962
• Joe Slovo and Bram Fischer
• Albert Luthuli and Robert Sobukwe

The Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court moved to the hill in 2004 and first sat here in February that year. Its building was made partly with bricks from the demolished Awaiting Trial Block, so the prison’s past is built into the court itself. Inside is an art collection of over 200 contemporary works, curated with Justice Albie Sachs. The Flame of Democracy was lit here on 10 December 2011 to mark the Constitution’s 15th anniversary.

What to see at Constitution Hill

The precinct has several distinct sites, and each tells a different part of the story:

• Number Four: the section for Black male prisoners, including the solitary confinement cells and food quarters.
• Women’s Gaol: added in 1907, where women prisoners were held.
• Old Fort: Kruger’s 1890s fortification, home to the Mandela Cell exhibit. The exhibit also covers the 1956 Treason Trial.
• Constitutional Court: the court building and its art collection. Entry to the court itself is free; museum fees apply to the prison sections.
• Flame of Democracy: lit in 2011 for the Constitution’s 15th anniversary.

Tours, prices and opening hours

Constitution Hill is open every day from 08:45 to 17:00, and no tickets are sold after 16:00. The site is cashless, so bring a card. The phone number is +27 11 381 3100. The prices below are from the official site and are per person, in South African rand.

• Highlights Tour (1 hour): hourly on the hour from 09:00 to 16:00. Adults R150; children aged 5–17, seniors and students R90.
• Full Tour (2 hours): at 10:00 and 13:00. Adults R200; children aged 5–17, seniors and students R110.
• Private Full Tour (at your own pace): adults R250; children aged 5–17, seniors and students R200.
• Night Tour (3 hours): on the last Thursday of the month, for groups of 10 or more. R390 per person.

Ways to save

• Booking online through Webtickets gives you 5% off.
• Children under 7 get in free.
• Entry is free on Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, Youth Day, Women’s Day, Heritage Day and Reconciliation Day.
• Constitution Hill is Stop 5 on the City Sightseeing Joburg red bus route. On the day of your bus trip, your red bus ticket gets you 25% off Constitution Hill tickets.

Holiday closures

The site closes at 13:00 on 24 and 31 December 2026. It is closed on 25 and 26 December 2026 and on 1 January 2027.

Things to do at and around Constitution Hill

• Pick your tour: the Highlights Tour fits a short visit, and the Full Tour gives you more time in the prison sections. The monthly Night Tour is worth planning for if you have a group of 10 or more; visitors describe the evening tour as a standout.
• Sit in on a court session: you can watch a public session at the Constitutional Court.
• Combine it with the red bus: ride the City Sightseeing Joburg loop and get off at Stop 5 to use the 25% ticket discount.
• Explore Braamfontein: the surrounding area is Johannesburg’s creative district and is easy to add to your day.

Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival

Every year, around Human Rights Day on 21 March, the precinct hosts the Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival. It’s free and includes panels, film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and live music. The 7th edition ran from 20 to 23 March 2025. Vusi Mahlasela has played at past festivals.

Practical tips for your visit

• Arrive by 16:00: ticket sales stop an hour before closing.
• Bring a card: the site does not accept cash.
• Check dates: plan around the national holidays with free entry, or the last Thursday of the month if you want a Night Tour.
• Plan how you’ll get there and back: at least one visitor has reported not feeling safe during their visit. Arrange your transport in advance, for example the hop-on hop-off bus, and keep valuables out of sight.

Most visitors say the visit is educational and thought-provoking. Give yourself at least an hour, or longer if you want to see the prison sections and the court in one trip.

Photo: Stefan Schäfer, Lich, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.