Tuynhuys, which houses the Presidential offices, falls under the Presidency and is managedindependently from Parliament. It was used as an official residence and guesthouse byalmost all the governors of the Cape - Dutch, Batavian and British - and by State Presidentsafter the country became a Republic in 1961. Historically Tuynbuys (or Government Houseas it was known by the British) provided the grounds on which Parliament was built. In 1971Tuynhuys was restoration to its original Baroque period, the wings were kept in the Victorianstyle and the Stalplein side reflects the Georgian period. The gardens were restored to aBaroque layout. Tuynhuys still shares the same erf number with Parliament, and togetherwere declared national monuments in 1984.
This building is the site of one of the most important turning points in South African historywhen FW de Klerk announced from its steps, on 18 March 1992, that South Africa had'closed the book on apartheid'.
