Nelson Mandela: his house becomes a luxury hotel
Find out why the transformation of Madiba's former home has sparked such fierce criticism!
Located in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela's house has just been turned into a luxury hotel. The initiative comes from his foundation, which owns the property, but it is far from pleasing everyone.
An intimate hotel
The hotel aims to be chic and luxurious, but what is the point of the transformation? “To attract world leaders and people who wish to draw inspiration from this icon, by offering them the chance to be immersed in his most intimate surroundings”.
So you don't come here for a sightseeing trip, but for an immersive experience at the heart of this great man's life. There are, in fact, only 9 rooms available, so there's little risk of bumping into a crowd at breakfast!
As for prices, the logic of ultra high-end hotels applies, with an entry price of 250 € rising to 850 € for the presidential suite.
Fierce criticism
Unsurprisingly, such an initiative has shocked the country. All the more so as the foundation's justification leaves you wondering: "Now, more than ever, at a time when the world needs the equal distribution of vaccines in order to protect lives, Nelson Mandela's ideals of equality and the eradication of poverty are needed.”
The South African weekly The Continent, which broke the news of the hotel's opening, notes wryly: “Stand up for equality and the eradication of poverty, by all means, but kindly do so in… a luxury hotel!”
It is only natural to wonder whether such a venture really chimes with the values of the former President of South Africa, who died in 2013...
What do you make of this transformation into a luxury hotel?
On a different note, we also have an article on the homes from your favourite films and series that should be right up your street!
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