The Palace of Justice

The Palace of Justice is a historic building in Pretoria, South Africa that serves as the seat of the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court for constitutional matters in the country.

Some key facts about the Palace of Justice:

• It is located on Church Square in central Pretoria.
• The building was constructed between 1891-1898 in a Renaissance Revival style with elements of English Baroque and French Renaissance architecture.
• It originally housed the Supreme Court of the old Transvaal Republic. After the Anglo-Boer War, it became the home of the Supreme Court of the Transvaal Colony.
• In 1910, after the formation of the Union of South Africa, it served as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court until 1969.
• From 1970-1994, under apartheid, the building housed the Supreme Court of South Africa.
• After the end of apartheid in 1994, it underwent renovations to become the seat of the new Constitutional Court of post-apartheid South Africa.
• The building features elements like a copper dome, columns, ornate stonework and a grand interior courtroom.

this historic palace has played a pivotal role housing South Africa’s highest courts over different eras of the country’s history.