The national Department of Rural Development and Land Reform will be partnering together with the Gauteng Provincial Government to host the 1913 Natives’ Land Act Exhibition starting from 26 July to 4 August at the Nasrec Expo Centre, near Soweto. The Exhibition forms part of the activities to mark 100 years since the promulgation of the 1913 Natives’ Land Act by the apartheid government.
The exhibition at the Nasrec Expo Centre is the second leg of the road-show following a successful run at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in June. The Exhibition will be hosted in all the provinces, ending in the Western Cape in March 2014. The exhibition features a vibrant cast including actors from the Gauteng province and covers three broad themes on colonial and apartheid land dispossession; resistance to colonialism and apartheid; and the restitution of land rights to victims of forced removals under the democratic government.
According to the Director-General for the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform Mr Mduduzile Shabane, the exhibition is aimed at creating awareness especially among the Youth, about the journey travelled thus far and the progress made by the government of the day towards reversing the negative legacy of the 1913 Natives’ Land Act and related racially motivated laws.
Moving through the different eras depicted in the exhibition, one is overwhelmed by a sense of positive resolve to ensure the safe-guarding of the country’s hard-earned democracy, to never be part of any legislation that seeks the oppression of any group in our society. The exhibition is aimed at instilling a sense of hope for the future in the hearts of South Africans. Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to sign a pledge committing them to actively support government efforts towards nation building.
From Gauteng, the exhibition will move to the Mpumalanga province.
Enquiries:
Thebe Mohatle, Office of the Premier
Cell: 082 373 1146
Ms Pulane Molefe, The national Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
Cell: 071 855 8369
