Pretoria - The opening of an access road between two previously divided institutions - Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument - will be among the highlights of this year's National Reconciliation Day celebration on Friday.
President Jacob Zuma, who will be joined by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mninwa Mahlangu and Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, will officially open the access road that links the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park to mark an important day in the history of the country.
Freedom Park was established in 2009 by the Department of Arts and Culture. The core function of the park is to provide a pioneering and empowering heritage destination that reflects South Africa's pre-colonial, colonial, apartheid and post apartheid experiences.
It is aimed at contributing to mutual understanding and appreciation of various communities and nations.
The Voortrekker Monument, on the other hand, was inaugurated in 1949 as a unique monument which commemorates the pioneer history of Southern Africa and the history of the Afrikaner. The monument also manages Kerkenberg and the Blood River Heritage.
In a statement, the Presidency said the opening of the access road will play a huge part in reconciling South African society as both of these memorial sites represent different faces of South Africa's history and culture.
"The road will also enable easy access of visitors to both institutions, which will play a huge role in nation building and social cohesion, as visitors from both sides come from different political affiliations and cultures," said the Presidency.
The commemoration of the national day creates a platform to implement the principles embedded in the Constitution of South Africa.
The Preamble of the Constitution states: "We the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of the past, Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom of our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country, and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in diversity".
The Preamble of the South African Constitution emphasizes reconciliation and nation building principles.
The institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a symbol of goodwill to work together to foster reconciliation and the opening of the road is part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding.
