Old prison becomes courthouse

Jet, April 5, 2004

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Caption: OLD PRISON BECOMES COURTHOUSE: South African President Thabo Mbeki speaks at the opening of the new Constitutional Court building in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. The $73 million refurbishment of the 100-year-old prison building--formerly called The Fort--which once held Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi as prisoners, now serves as the custodian of South Africa's new constitution and will house 11 judges--nine men and two women--whose duty is to uphold the Constitution, which they must apply impartially and without fear, favor or prejudice. "It is right that the Constitutional Court occupies this building, which represents the conversion of the negative, the hateful energy ... into a positive hopeful energy for the present and future," Mbeki said. The original Constitutional Court was established in 1994.