African architects invited to design a living memorial to Nelson Mandela
MEDIA RELEASE | The University of Cape Town (UCT) has launched the UCT Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance Architectural Design Competition, inviting architects and designers from across Africa to participate in this landmark initiative.
The proposed project will create a permanent home for the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance while establishing a living memorial dedicated to the values and legacy of Nelson Mandela.
Situated on UCT's Upper Campus, at the threshold between campus and mountain, the project occupies a unique site within a landscape shaped by ecological recovery, cultural memory and ongoing transformation.
The competition is endorsed by the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and is being conducted in partnership with the African Union of Architects (AUA), reinforcing its ambition to attract architectural ideas, perspectives and talent from across the African continent.
The two-stage competition has been structured to encourage broad participation from both emerging and established architects across the continent. Participants will be invited to explore how architecture, landscape and public space can work together to create a place of lasting significance, responding to the project's memorial, educational and civic ambitions. The competition will be administered in accordance with recognised architectural competition principles and aims to showcase the diversity of architectural thought, design approaches and spatial practices emerging from Africa.
Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa, convenor of the external advisory panel which advised UCT on the philosophical ethos and ideas about memorialisation, said the project presented a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between landscape, memory and public life.
“An architectural competition is about transparency. It is about inclusivity. Most importantly, it is about intentionality. It places design at the centre of decision-making. This project is not simply about a building. It is about an experience, dialogue and transparency. It is about making people feel welcome and creating opportunities to listen to one another and learn about ethical leadership. Nelson Mandela belongs not only to South Africa but to the continent of Africa as well. It was therefore essential that architects be invited in an Africa-wide design competition and given an opportunity to participate.”
Razia Saleh, Head: Archives and Research at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and competition jury member, said the project offered an opportunity to honour Mandela's legacy in a manner that reflected his values and personal humility.
“Nelson Mandela was deeply uncomfortable with the idea of statues, monuments and memorials dedicated to him. He believed that the struggle for freedom was never about one individual, but about the collective efforts of countless people working to build a more just and democratic society”.
“What excites us about this partnership is that it seeks to honour Madiba's legacy in a way that reflects those values. Rather than creating a static monument, it imagines a living space where people can come together to learn, debate, question and engage with the challenges of our time”.
“The true measure of Mandela's legacy is not how we remember him, but how we continue the work to which he dedicated his life. We hope this becomes a place where dialogue, critical thinking and ethical leadership can flourish, helping to strengthen and deepen the democracy for which he fought so hard”.
Justice Albie Sachs, former Constitutional Court Justice and a long-time colleague of Nelson Mandela, said the project presented an opportunity to imagine new possibilities for memorialisation, leadership and public engagement.
“Buildings need calculated madness. You can't predict innovation. That's the whole point. The outcome is uncertain, but without that emotion, that passion, it would be OK. And OK is not OK”.
Reflecting on the kind of place the project could create, Justice Sachs said, “I imagine this as a space of listening. It is very democratic. It is very equalising. Every voice has the same right to be heard”.
The project has been made possible through the support of Atlantic Philanthropies, together with contributions from a range of donors, alumni and partners.
The broader project, including the Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre, academic facilities and associated landscape interventions, is expected to have a total development value of approximately R600 million, making it one of the most significant investments in UCT's academic and civic infrastructure in recent decades.
Professor Brandon Collier-Reed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at UCT, said the project represented a significant investment in the university's future and in its ability to contribute to Africa's future.
“The ambition is not simply to add another building to campus. It is to create a place that enriches the wider university environment and contributes to its future identity. This is not intended to be a monument that simply commemorates the past. It is intended to be a living memorial, carrying Nelson Mandela's legacy into the future through learning, dialogue and action”.
Collier-Reed said the project reflected UCT's commitment to developing capable leaders, strengthening institutions and contributing to the public good across Africa.
“We envisage a place where African conversations are hosted, where Global South perspectives are amplified, and where dialogue across regions, sectors and disciplines can flourish. Ultimately, the success of this project will not be measured by its architecture alone. It will be measured by the leaders it develops, the institutions it strengthens, the partnerships it enables and the contribution it makes to a more prosperous, peaceful, just and inclusive future”.
Janet Saaiman, President of the South African Institute of Architects, welcomed the launch of the competition and its commitment to transparency, excellence and inclusivity.
“As the proud endorser of the UCT Architectural Design Competition for the Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance, SAIA champions design excellence through inclusive, transparent and innovative participation. In partnership with the AUA, the competition seeks to nurture emerging talent across Africa while promoting ethical and transparent procurement processes”.
Professor Cheryl Hendricks, Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, said, "The mission of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance is that of strengthening inclusive leadership for the transformation of the continent, with a particular focus on the public sector”.
“Africa needs effective, responsive, inclusive and capable states that centre the well-being of their citizens. Our work is to support governments, intergovernmental organisations and civil society to achieve this end goal”.
“We hope to gather Africa's courageous intellectuals, practitioners, policymakers and activists – young, not so young and elders – to learn, share experiences, think and develop new pathways for our very many vexed challenges, including the implementation gap between policy and practice that we keep referencing”.
The UCT Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance Architectural Design Competition forms part of a broader vision to create a destination of national, continental and international significance, one that reflects the values associated with Nelson Mandela while contributing to the future of public leadership, democratic governance and social development across Africa.
Registration for the competition opens on 25 June 2026 and closes on 28 July 2026. Eligible architects, designers and students from across Africa are invited to register and participate. Competition details are available at: uctnelsonmandelacompetition.org
About the Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance
The Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance is a partnership between the University of Cape Town, the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The project seeks to create a permanent home for the School while establishing a living memorial to Nelson Mandela that promotes leadership development, public dialogue, learning and civic engagement. The proposed facility will be located on UCT's Upper Campus in Cape Town and is intended to serve as a destination of national, continental and international significance.
Competition Jury
The competition will be adjudicated by a distinguished jury comprising leaders in architecture, urban design, public governance, heritage and memorialisation from South Africa and abroad.
Professor Rahul Mehrotra is an internationally acclaimed architect, urban designer and educator. He is the founder of RMA Architects in Mumbai and the John T. Dunlop Professor of Housing and Urbanization at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His work and scholarship have focused on the relationship between architecture, urbanisation, heritage and cultural identity in rapidly changing societies around the world.
Tosin Oshinowo is an internationally recognised Nigerian architect and founder of Oshinowo Studio in Lagos. Her work is celebrated for its contemporary African design approach, socially responsive architecture and exploration of issues relating to identity, culture, climate and urbanisation. She has been recognised globally as one of Africa's leading architectural voices.
Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa is an award-winning architect, urban designer and founder of Design Network Architects & Urban Designers. A former political prisoner and respected practitioner, he has played a leading role in shaping public spaces, housing developments and urban design projects across South Africa. He also convened the advisory panel that developed the Positioning Brief for the Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance.
Professor Alan Hirsch is Professor Emeritus at the University of Cape Town and one of South Africa's leading public policy thinkers. He founded and served as the first Director of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and previously managed economic policy in the Presidency, where he played a central role in economic reform and development planning.
Razia Saleh is Head: Archives and Research at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. She has extensive experience in preserving and promoting Nelson Mandela's legacy and has been closely involved in initiatives that advance dialogue, memory, social justice and active citizenship.
Fanuel JC Chaane Motsepe is a South African architect, urban designer and founder of Motsepe Architects. A former President of the African Union of Architects (South Region), he is recognised for his contribution to architecture, heritage, urban design and the transformation of the built environment in South Africa. He was nominated by SAIA to serve on the jury for the UCT Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre and School of Public Governance Architectural Design Competition.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Petunia Thulo
Communications Manager
Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance
University of Cape Town
Petunia.Thulo@uct.ac.za Tel: 076 232 5517