A new commemorative stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of Chief Albert Luthuli receiving the Nobel Peace Prize will be issued on Friday.
It will be launched on Saturday at a high-profile event at the Luthuli Museum in Groutville, the site of the original 1927 home of the chief.
To make the day even more special, people living in the immediate area will be receiving home postal addresses for the first time, the post office has said.
A total of six areas and 1 531 homes will start to receive post at their homes on Saturday.
And the first mail box in the area will also go up at the museum.
“This is a fitting tribute, we believe, as the Luthuli family tells the story that when Luthuli was alive, people used to take their letters to the home, treating it as a de facto post office,” said Voyo Mahlati, the chairman of the Post Office Board.
Honoured
It was on December 10, 1961, that Luthuli, the longest serving ANC president-general, became the first African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in Oslo, Norway.
Brian Xaba, director of the Luthuli Museum, said it was honoured to play a part in the launch of the commemorative stamp.
“Throughout his life and political career, Chief Albert Luthuli fought for social justice, equality and human rights, a stance that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize,” he said.
The Luthuli stamp issue has a total of 10 stamps, contained in a commemorative folder available at R2.50 each or R25 each for the sheet.
A total of 20 000 sheets has been printed.
The images on the stamps include a portrait of Chief Luthuli by Dumile Feni (l968), an image of a bronze sculpture, used courtesy of Iziko Museums, Cape Town, and photographs of the chief by Ranjith Kally, courtesy of the Luthuli Museum.