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President Thabo Mbeki to address the National Freedom Day Celebrations
20
April 2005 President Thabo Mbeki will address the National Freedom Day
celebrations to be held at ABSA Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The principal
national celebrations in Durban will be complimented by a number provincial celebrations
at eight other sites across the country. The theme for this year’s
Freedom Day (27 April 2005) celebrations is: ‘Building a South Africa that
truly belongs to all’. This theme derives from the Freedom Charter, whose
50th anniversary we are marking this year. The Freedom Charter is an inspirational
document which guided South Africa’s struggle for freedom and laid the foundations
for this new democracy. The department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has been
mandated to take the lead in shaping Freedom Day celebrations and to this end
a rich pageantry of cultural activities will form part of the main event. There
will be beautiful music and colourful dances reflecting the cultural diversity
and the immense talent of South Africa’s artistic community. The SANDF will
mount a military parade and an air display.
President Mbeki will be accompanied
by, amongst others, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Z Pallo Jordan, the Premier
of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Sibusiso Ndebele, His Majesty King Goodwil Zwelithini, KwaZulu-Natal
MEC for Arts and Culture, Mr Narend Singh and the mayor of Durban, Mr Obed Mlaba.
The province of KwaZulu-Natal is proud to host the national celebrations, which
mark the beginning of the second decade of our democracy. On 26 April President
Mbeki will be bestowing National Orders on outstanding individuals in four identified
categories: The Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, Order of the Companions
of OR Tambo and the Order of Mapungubwe at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Freedom
Day is a continuation of the government’s aim to affirm the pride and dignity
of South Africans and to unite the country in a celebration of freedom and democracy.
A cultural programme, with a line up of performing artists for Freedom
Day will be available on www.dac.gov.za <http://www.dac.gov.za> on the 24
April. For more information:
Andile Xaba
Cell: 082 377 6627 Mack
Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076 Premi Appalraju
Cell: 082 375 2939 Issued
by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
20 April 2005
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