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Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Mahlamba Ndlopfu (formerly known as Libertas) is the chief official residence of the President of the Republic of South Africa. The head of government has made it their official home since 1940 and it is located in the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria.
The building was built in 1940 and was designed by Gerard Moerdijk, a South African architect, to be the official residence in Pretoria of the Prime Minister of the time, General Jan Smuts. Since its creation, Mahlamba Ndlopfu has also hosted official visits from foreign heads of state, such as visits by François Mitterrand, the President of the French Republic, and Barack Obama, the President of the United States.
The current occupant of Mahlamba Ndlopfu is Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa since February 14, 2018.
In the late 1930s, Prime Minister Jan Smuts and his government organised a national competition to select the architect who would lead the construction of the new official residence in Pretoria of the South African head of government. Gerard Moerdijk, already known for designing the University of Pretoria and the Voortrekker Monument, convinced the jury appointed by the Department of Public Works.
Moerdijk decided to adopt the Cape Dutch style, a type of traditional house common among Boer and Afrikaans descendants in South Africa. However, he adapted this style to a more luxurious context so that the place could express the charm and power of the Union of South Africa. Jan Smuts was the first head of government to settle in this residence which was then called Libertas (freedom in Latin).
From 1940 to 1961, Libertas was the chief official residence of the Prime Ministers of the Union of South Africa, which was a dominion under the Crown. The Prime Minister's other official residence was Groote Schuur, which is located in Cape Town. The Prime Minister was the head of government, while the Governor-General, who defended the interests of London, represented the British monarch, the monarch being the Sovereign and Head of State.
On 31 May 1961, the Union officially became the Republic of South Africa, following a referendum organised by Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd the previous year. The country was forced to leave the Commonwealth because of its apartheid laws, to which the other former British colonies and the United Kingdom were hostile. The Royal positions and titles disappeared, and the role of head of state was transferred to the newly elected State President of the Republic of South Africa.
In September 1983, Libertas experienced a great change with the adoption of the new South African constitution during the mandate of Prime Minister P.W. Botha. The new constitution officially came into force the following year, in September 1984. The position of Prime Minister was abolished, while the State President was now the head of government as well as being the head of state. After that, Libertas became one of the official residences of the State President, along with Tuynhuys and Westbrooke (since renamed Genadendal) on the Groote Schuur estate in Cape Town and King's House (since renamed Dr John Dube House) in Durban.
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Mahlamba Ndlopfu
Mahlamba Ndlopfu (formerly known as Libertas) is the chief official residence of the President of the Republic of South Africa. The head of government has made it their official home since 1940 and it is located in the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria.
The building was built in 1940 and was designed by Gerard Moerdijk, a South African architect, to be the official residence in Pretoria of the Prime Minister of the time, General Jan Smuts. Since its creation, Mahlamba Ndlopfu has also hosted official visits from foreign heads of state, such as visits by François Mitterrand, the President of the French Republic, and Barack Obama, the President of the United States.
The current occupant of Mahlamba Ndlopfu is Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa since February 14, 2018.
In the late 1930s, Prime Minister Jan Smuts and his government organised a national competition to select the architect who would lead the construction of the new official residence in Pretoria of the South African head of government. Gerard Moerdijk, already known for designing the University of Pretoria and the Voortrekker Monument, convinced the jury appointed by the Department of Public Works.
Moerdijk decided to adopt the Cape Dutch style, a type of traditional house common among Boer and Afrikaans descendants in South Africa. However, he adapted this style to a more luxurious context so that the place could express the charm and power of the Union of South Africa. Jan Smuts was the first head of government to settle in this residence which was then called Libertas (freedom in Latin).
From 1940 to 1961, Libertas was the chief official residence of the Prime Ministers of the Union of South Africa, which was a dominion under the Crown. The Prime Minister's other official residence was Groote Schuur, which is located in Cape Town. The Prime Minister was the head of government, while the Governor-General, who defended the interests of London, represented the British monarch, the monarch being the Sovereign and Head of State.
On 31 May 1961, the Union officially became the Republic of South Africa, following a referendum organised by Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd the previous year. The country was forced to leave the Commonwealth because of its apartheid laws, to which the other former British colonies and the United Kingdom were hostile. The Royal positions and titles disappeared, and the role of head of state was transferred to the newly elected State President of the Republic of South Africa.
In September 1983, Libertas experienced a great change with the adoption of the new South African constitution during the mandate of Prime Minister P.W. Botha. The new constitution officially came into force the following year, in September 1984. The position of Prime Minister was abolished, while the State President was now the head of government as well as being the head of state. After that, Libertas became one of the official residences of the State President, along with Tuynhuys and Westbrooke (since renamed Genadendal) on the Groote Schuur estate in Cape Town and King's House (since renamed Dr John Dube House) in Durban.