Which building hosted Nelson Mandela’s first address after his release from prison?

Cape Town City Hall hosted Nelson Mandela’s first public address after his release from prison.

Mandela spoke from the balcony of the building on 11 February 1990, the day he left Victor Verster Prison. Thousands of people gathered in the Grand Parade and surrounding streets to hear him.

His speech called for continued struggle against apartheid while also stressing negotiation and peace. The address became one of the defining public moments of South Africa’s transition.

Cape Town City Hall is a historic Edwardian building completed in 1905. It stands beside the Grand Parade, a central public space that had long been used for political gatherings and civic events.