Mayor David Rees laid the foundation stone with full masonic honours in 1897. Completed at a cost of £33 750, the building was officially opened on 5 October 1899 by the then new mayor, W.C. Jackson. The Victorian Renaissance design included the “Victoria Tower”, added later to commemorate Queen Victoria’s 60 years on the throne. The marble staircase was constructed from marble directly imported from Italy.
The City Hall also has 4 statues recounting the history of the region. The Steve Biko Statue is in memory of the Anti-apartheid activist at the forefront of the Black Consciousness Movement who died while in police custody in September 1977 in Pretoria. The statue of the bronze horse and rider was erected to the memory of the officers and men who lost their lives in the Anglo-Boer War 1899 – 1902. The statue of Rev Dr WB Rubusana celebrates the man held in high esteem by all South African’s for his anti-apartheid activism, his teaching, writing and religious contributions to the Metro. The fourth statue of Desmond Tutu celebrates the life and contributions of this South African cleric, theologian, and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He is well known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist, and his work on at the Peace and Reconciliation Commission.