Sandton, Jo’burg

The night before leaving for Jo’burg, my mother reminded me of Mahatma G’s history in South Africa: living in SA was consciousness raising and gave him the opportunity to develop his litigation and community organisation skills that would come so handy in leading India to its independence. While Jo’burg’s history is etched on every street sign, plaza and most major buildings, it’s all in homage to Nelson M who fought against apartheid. I stayed in Sandton, Jo’burg’s financial district on a recent business trip. Mandela Square is just one of many examples of how the city celebrates Nelson M, their local hero and the nation’s source of pride. As you can see from the size of Nelson’s statue, it captures the man’s “larger than life” presence.