Castle of Good Hope gives back to community on Mandela Day

CAPE TOWN - The Castle of Good Hope on Friday dropped its drawbridge to welcome NGO’s, businesses, and activists to spend 67 minutes giving back, in celebration of Mandela Day.

Volunteers have been distributing warm meals to people experiencing homelessness around the castle, while organisers offered free guided tours of the national heritage site.

Buskers and artists were also given space to sell their traditional crafts.

CEO of the Castle Control Board, Calvyn Gilfellan, said they had dedicated the whole month of July to doing good.

"You know, the Castle has been established as the bastion of armed colonial conquest, the Apartheid army was housed there, the Union army was hosted there. So, a lot of atrocities can be traced historically back to the Castle. So, this is an opportunity for the Castle and its partners to give back to the community."