Events to commemorate Mandela

Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Western Cape province town of George in this March 18, 2005 file photo. Mandela has passed away on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Files (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS OBITUARY SOCIETY)

Nelson Mandela laughs with journalists and performers participating in the second 46664 concert near the small Western Cape province town of George in this March 18, 2005 file photo. Mandela has passed away on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Files (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS OBITUARY SOCIETY)

Published Dec 5, 2014

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Johannesburg - The Nelson Mandela Foundation has put together events to commemorate Madiba on the first anniversary of his death on Friday.

The foundation will launch a new exhibition that will include a multimedia experience. There will be a selection of messages and contributions sent by people from throughout the world after Mandela died.

The exhibition will run at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, 107 Central Street, Houghton, until the end of February.

The gun carriage that carried Madiba’s coffin will be on display as the SANDF’s military tribute.

Members of the public can visit the centre from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and from 9am to 2pm on weekends.

The Mandela Legacy Cup will see the Proteas versus the Springboks play against one another in a friendly cricket match at 3pm at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium. There will be performances by Johnny Clegg and Prime Circle.

On Saturday poets, writers, performers and musicians will open a session led by Professor Njabulo Ndebele, chairman of the Nelson Mandela Foundation at the foundation’s Centre of Memory.

On Sunday, National Bikers for Madiba will hold a breakfast run. Bikers nationwide are encouraged to dedicate their Sunday breakfast runs to Madiba.

On December 12, comedians will pay tribute between 5pm and 7.30pm at the Centre for Memory. On December 13, there will be a Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk and on December 14, the inaugural Tshwane City Marathon will dedicate the “last mile” to Madiba.

Other sectors of society are also doing something special in memory of Madiba.

The South African Gold Exchange and The Scoin Shop have released a Mandela Remembrance Gold Medallion. Only 500 will be minted and the coin will feature eight South African flags at half-mast, with the inscription: “Freedom. Dignity. Equality. Forever Remembered 1918-2013”.

Pick n Pay will donate all its profits on December 14 to the Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Hospital Trust.

The National Freedom Party Youth Movement has urged young people to follow their lead in donating blood.

DA Gauteng leader John Moodey will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at 9am at the former statesman’s home in Houghton.

On Sunday Madiba’s family, the royal family of the kingdom of the abaThembu and villagers will hold a prayer meeting in Tata’s homeland. Spokesman Nkosi Daludumo Mtirara said the royal family had helped the Mandela family through the stages of ukuzila (mourning). “Where he is, he has taken comfort that we followed the right procedures by culture,” Mtirara said. “The next phase - which is done after a year of someone’s passing - is inviting his spirit to be part of the family’s ancestors to protect the home. It is key and is a ceremony dedicated to men in particular.”

Mtirara said the royal family held a meeting with Mandela’s grandson and chief of Mvezo, Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, as well as other “core” family members to discuss how they would mark the first year of his death.

“We also have proposed to the family that we need to resolve the handing over of umkhonto (spear). Mandela was the head of the royal family; now that he has passed, the spear needs to be handed over to Nkosi Zwelivelile.”

The Star

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