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Making history at "Soccer City" on New Year's Eve
The FNB Stadium will be filled to capacity on New Year's Eve, dispelling oft-repeated concerns that this facility, upgraded to host the FIFA World Cup, would become a white elephant. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), will host a celebration for 94 000 people to welcome the New Year in Africa's largest stadium. This is the first non-sporting event to be held at the world-famous stadium since the venue hosted matches during the World Cup in June 2010.
The UCKG has partnered with African Musicians Against HIV/Aids (AMAHA), an organisation led by Kwaito singer Doc Shebeleza which is committed to spreading awareness of HIV/Aids. During the day and early evening, AMAHA will provide live entertainment. Artists include Nhlanhla of Mafikizolo, Deborah Fraser, Pure Gold, Sputla Sebogodi (Kenneth Mashaba in Generations), Benjamin Dube, Tshepiso and many more.
Many of those who have already reserved seats are members of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God from more than three hundred and fifty churches nationally. They will travel to the stadium in specially reserved buses and trains from all provinces and from neighbouring countries including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Stadium seats are free with tickets obtainable from regional churches. Hospitality suites can be booked through Computicket. The event is not restricted to church members - everyone is welcome to apply for, or purchase tickets for their own New Year's Eve calabash-experience.
Just as the World Cup unified the country and spread the feeling of Ubuntu, the Universal Church aims to spread the message of peace and togetherness for 2011. At 10pm Bishop Marcelo Pires, host of the Worker's Prayer which is broadcast on SABC 1 and Wake up in Faith on e-TV on weekday mornings, will speak on issues relating to family, good citizenship and being proudly South African as a legacy of the World Cup success. He will lead a prayer vigil to welcome 2011.
Rather than spending money on fireworks at midnight, the church will donate that money, and other funds raised during the day, to various charity organisations including AMAHA.
The UCKG has hosted two previous New Year's Eve night vigils at the FNB Stadium, in 2005/6 and in 2006/7. Both these vigils filled the stadium to capacity, requiring large screens to be put up outside the venue to cater for all those who could not be seated inside.
For further publicity information, please contact Nametso Mofokeng, UCKG Public Relations, on (011) 224-3447, email: az.gro.gkcu@rp or visit the website www.universalark.co.za.
