A partial resolution has been reached regarding the whereabouts of Johannesburg’s historic mayoral chains, following an oversight visit by opposition councillors to a bank vault. However, the location of four chains remains unknown, while a separate ceremonial artefact, the Freedom Regiments Sword, has been secured for public display at a national military museum.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) had repeatedly questioned the City of Johannesburg about the storage and security of its civic regalia after the closure of the Metro Centre, the city’s former civic headquarters. DA councillor Bongani Nkwanyana, a member of the Community Development Committee, confirmed that city officials recently granted councillors access to view some of the artefacts. “We were eventually taken to the bank vault. We were shown four chains, confirming that at least some of the artefacts are being stored securely,” he stated. “However, the visit did not clarify the fate of the four remaining chains. While we are satisfied that some of the chains are being kept safely, questions do remain about the others.” The City has not responded to queries about the total number of chains or the whereabouts of those not shown.
Johannesburg has accumulated multiple mayoral chains over decades as surrounding municipalities were incorporated into the metro. These chains, associated with areas such as Soweto, Sandton, and Randburg, are traditionally worn by the mayor during official ceremonies. Crafted from gold and adorned with the city’s coat of arms, they are both historically significant and valuable ceremonial objects.
The controversy also encompassed the Freedom Regiments Sword, a separate artefact formerly displayed in the Metro Centre foyer. Speculation arose about its status after the building’s closure. Lt Col (Ret.) Harry van Staden of the Johannesburg Regiment Association clarified that the sword was not missing but had been removed for safekeeping. He explained that the sword belongs to the Freedom Regiments Association, which commissioned it for the city’s 1986 centenary celebrations, and that the City had merely provided display space.
Concerns about the sword’s safety were raised by regiment members in April 2024 after noting the Metro Centre’s deteriorating condition. Following authorisation from the Freedom Regiments Association, the sword was removed on 24 July 2024 with officials from the Speaker’s office and municipal security present. It was placed in private storage the next day.
The artefact is now being prepared for a permanent display at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold. It was transferred to the museum’s armoury on 7 March 2026 for cleaning and will be mounted in a new Regiments Room, scheduled to open on 24 May 2026. Van Staden noted the sword’s significance is historical, not material, dismissing rumours of a gold blade. “The blade is stainless steel,” he said. “Its significance lies in its history rather than its material value.”
The relocation ensures the sword’s preservation and public accessibility, addressing earlier uncertainties. For the mayoral chains, the oversight visit provided some clarity but left unresolved questions about the complete collection, highlighting ongoing responsibilities for the City’s heritage management.
