SA prepares to mark anniversary of Madiba's passing

The first anniversary of Madiba's passing is approaching; it's time to remember the great man and what he meant - and means - to us.

Briefing journalists at the Imbizo Centre in Parliament, the Minister said government would hold an official commemoration event at Freedom Park in Pretoria on 5 December - the day that the struggle icon passed on at his Houghton Estate home in Johannesburg - to celebrate his memory.

"We will use the first anniversary of Nelson Mandela's passing to make a call to all South Africans and the world to keep his memory alive by living his values and continuing with efforts aimed at ensuring that all humanity lives in a society where peace, tolerance, the rule of law, justice and human rights form the cornerstone of our daily lives," she said.

On the day, government will collaborate with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to hold the official event in Pretoria, which will be preceded and followed by a series of other events on different dates.

The Minister also announced that the Nelson Mandela Foundation would during the anniversary launch a "buy-a-book" campaign aimed at urging members of the public to buy and donate books to their local library, especially if they live in disadvantaged areas.

She said the buy-a-book campaign was significant and all organisations and private individuals should partake in it to honour Madiba's memory.

"Building on the buy-a-book campaign, the Department of Social Development requests South Africans to buy and donate books to their local early childhood development centres, in line with Mandela's vision for the nurturing and development of children," she said.

Activities to remember Madiba

The Minister said several events would be held to commemorate the anniversary of Madiba's passing, including a wreath laying ceremony at the Mandela statue at the Union Buildings at 0800 on 5 December; and an official commemorative event for invited guests at Freedom Park in Pretoria, where Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address.

Provincial governments will hold their own commemorative events.

The Minister made a call to churches, schools, factories, mosques and others to ring bells and sirens and to use their loud hailers at 0957 on December 5 - for three minutes - to call the country to observe a moment of silence from 1000-1003.

The Minister said a social media campaign would be activated on the day under the hashtag #RememberMandela. People are urged to tweet their best memories of the fallen struggle icon.

South Africans are also called on to wear their favourite Mandela shirts or any other memorabilia on the day.

Mandela Foundation announces Mandela commemoration activities

Sello Hatang, the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, urged South Africans to embrace the buy-a-book campaign and said the foundation would also continue with its campaign on literacy, shelter and food security, which were launched earlier this year.

"We urge people to buy indigenous language books and books suitable for children," he said.

Some of the events that the foundation will hold include:

• The launch of the "In tribute to Nelson Mandela" Exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Foundation offices in Johannesburg on 3 December at 1730;
• The foundation's Centre of Memory will host open days between 5 and 15 December on weekdays from 0900-1600, including on weekends;
• The Mandela Legacy Cup at the Wanderer's Stadium on December 5 from 1500, where the Springboks will play a cricket match against the Proteas. Johnny Clegg, Prime Circle and the Soweto Gospel Choir will also perform on the day;
• A writers, poets, artists and musicians tribute to Madiba on 6 December;
• A Big Roar for Madiba on 7 December, where bikers will do a breakfast run on a route to be announced;
• A Remembrance Walk in honour of Madiba on 13 December; and
• The inaugural Tshwane City Marathon "The Last Mile" in honour of Madiba will be hosted at the Union Buildings on 14 December.