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24 April 2008

The Eastern Cape government is hosting the Freedom Day Commemoration in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality in Burgersdorp at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday, 27 April 2008. The Office of the Premier and the provincial Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) are co-ordinating the event under the theme: "Business Unusual: All Hands on Deck for Faster Development".

Eastern Cape Premier, Nosimo Balindlela is expected to deliver a keynote address at this provincial event. In its mission of bringing the government closer to the people, the celebrations will also see National Ministers in attendance. These include Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Bridgett Mabandla, Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe, Minister of Safety and Security, Ronnie Kasrils and Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The people of Burgersdorp will be able to interact and highlight to the ministers the various issues that concern them.

Not only is the day celebrated as a national holiday but also as a means by the provincial government to communicate its programmes and bring services to the people. Services on wheels will be rendered from Saturday, 26 April. South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will give food parcels to the most destitute families in the area and register people who need social grants while the Department of Home Affairs will register people who need IDs to enable them to access government services. Department of Health will render on-site health services.

In addition, exhibitions by various departments and parastatals will also display and distribute information on various government services and programmes aimed at entrepreneurship development in echo of government's Vuk'uzenzele ethos.

The rendering of services also gives effect to the principle of nation building in that it integrates people from various socio-economic backgrounds with the view of social cohesion. This effort is in pursuance of the shared provincial blue print for socio-economic development.

This day affords all South Africans the opportunity to reflect on the gains that have been achieved in the past, after the country got its freedom 13 years ago. To ensure people of all races and creed partake in the commemorations, different cultural groups from all the six districts and Nelson Mandela Metro, including the Khoisans, have been invited to showcase a diversity of cultural activities.

In making the celebrations inclusive in nature, the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture will be hosting cultural activities and sports games such as soccer, rugby, netball and indigenous on the 26 April in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality as build-up programmes.

Background

The history of South Africa since the advent of colonialism has been that of inequality, segregations and inhumane treatment of indigenous people of South Africa. Under this climate, the government, since 1994 has tried to integrate the different racial groups divided by the injustices of the past to allow future generations the benefit to live in a country not dictated by the past but by decisions of their own choosing. The event will unify all South Africans within the ethos of the Rainbow Nation and enable the province to pay homage to heroes and heroines who had followed in the footsteps of the great freedom fighters produced by the Eastern Cape, such as Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Chris Hani, Steve Biko and OR Tambo, who played a role in social and economic emancipation of all South Africans.

Transport has been made available for the elderly people, people with disability and youth from various parts of the province to the event.

Enquiries:
Khangelwa Nomsenge
Cell: 072 842 4765

Chris Tyawana
Cell: 079 049 2578

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
24 April 2008