Count down to Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk

Friday, November 28, 2014

Pretoria – Gauteng says plans to celebrate the life and memory of the late former President Nelson Mandela next week are at an advanced stage.

South Africans will on 5 December mark the first anniversary since the passing of the struggle icon.

The 6-km Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk will take place on 13 December through the streets of Pretoria. According to the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mandela’s family and veterans including Andrew Mlangeni, Dennis Goldberg, Ruth Mompati, Sophia de Bruyn, Ahmed Kathrada and many others will participate.

Held under the theme “Mandela’s Legacy Lives On”, the walk is meant to bring people together in reminiscence of the values espoused by the founding father of South Africa’s democracy to unite and embrace each other as fellow human beings.

“The Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk, which henceforth will be an annual event, is attracting people beyond Gauteng. With only 10 000 people targeted for the walk, we call upon people to register early to avoid disappointment,” said MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Molebatsi Bopape.

Registration is still open and forms can be accessed on the departmental website on www.sacr.gpg.gov.zawww.nelsonmandela.org or collected at the departmental offices at 35 Surrey House, corner Rissik and Fox.

Members of the public have until 8 December 2014 to register for the walk.

About the route

The route for the walk is along the iconic sites in the history and transition of South Africa.

Starting at Freedom Park, the walk will pass Kgosi Mampuru Correctional services which symbolises the sad history of the gallows that are housed there; Church Square which symbolises the Palace of Justice following the Rivonia Trial; via Lillian Ngoyi’s Square; and the Union Buildings which since 1994 has been a symbol of victory of freedom and democracy.

“Let’s do it for our father, grandfather, reconciler and nation builder and join the walk in advancing Mandela’s ideals.

“By celebrating and honouring him we’ll also be committing to building a better South Africa for future generations who’ll never have a chance to live in the life and time of Mandela” said MEC Bopape. – SAnews.gov.za