15 December 2020
Freedom Park, a National Heritage site in Pretoria, will on Wednesday 16 December 2020, host a dialogue, themed : Reconcilliation, Social Cohesion, and National Building: Unity of Diverse South African Society for Economic Recovery and Growth. The national prayers and rituals shall precede the dialogue at 6h30; and will be held at Isivivine, the spiritual space within Freedom Park.
Participants in the dialogue will include Mr Mavuso Msimang (ANC Veteran), Retired General Keith Mokoape (ANC Veteran) and Dr Snuki Zikalala (ANC Veteran). Mpho Tsedu, the CEO, of Institute of Foreign Affairs will facilitate the programme.
The 16 December is a day of great historical significance in South Africa. Hence the dialogue. The day is associated with three historical episodes. These are The Battle of Ncome (formerly ‘Blood’) River , between the Voortrekkers and the Zulu in 1838 ; on the 16 December 1961; when uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) was formed as the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC) ; when the ANC-led democratic government, declared the 16 December, since 1995, as the Day of Reconciliation. The dialogue shall focus on these three epochs and more.
Freedom Park, as an entity of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), fosters reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building through the fulfilment of its main mandate of honouring heroes and heroines of the struggles for freedom and humanity. The memorialization of these stalwarts cuts across race, class, gender, age, political affiliation and national boundaries, thereby fostering reconciliation, social cohesion, nation and continent building.
The Veterans of various Liberation Movements; Civil Society Organizations; Names Verification Committee; Interfaith Committee; Youth Groups, Salvokop Youth Ambassadors and the University of Venda Students; will form part of the audience attending the dialogue. Cultural performances by various artists, shall entertain the audience.
Members of the Media are invited as follows:
Date: 16 December 2020
Time: National Prayers and Rituals: 7h00
Time: Dialogue: 10h00
Venue: Freedom Park, Pretoria
Media Enquiries:
Naomi Madima
012 336 4006/ 060 961 3851
