Nelson Mandela Square is a shopping centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. It includes a large open area built to resemble a traditional European town square, and an office complex. The centre was formerly known as Sandton Square and was named for the former president of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela in March 2004. A six-metre high statue of Mandela was unveiled at the square's renaming ceremony. It is attached to the large Sandton City shopping centre, together forming one of the largest retail complexes on the continent with over 400 stores. The Michelangelo Towers complex adjoins Nelson Mandela Square.
History
The Square, then known by its original name of Sandton Square, was first opened to the public in 1994. The shopping centre was designed in a faux-Italian style and the square was designed to resemble St Marks Square in Venice. Its design included a library, theatre and gallery.
See also
- List of awards and honours bestowed on Nelson Mandela