Mendi Tragedy
30 October 2007
The Departments of Arts and Culture, Defence, the Western Cape Provincial
Government and the City of Cape will co-host commemorative events to mark the
90th anniversary of the SS Mendi and Remembrance Day.
On 21 February 1917, six hundred and sixteen South Africans, who were
members of the 50th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Corps, lost
their lives when the ship they boarded in Cape Town, the SS Mendi, collided
with the SS Darro near the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. The 616 South
Africans lost their lives on their way to France to be part of the Allied
Forces during the First World War (1914 to1918).
The commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the SS Mendi Tragedy will take
place on 10 November 2007 at the Grand Parade in Cape Town. As part of the
commemoration, the SAS Mendi will be docked at the Cape Town Waterfront. To
kickstart the event, Minister Pallo Jordan and other dignitaries will
officially open the SAS Mendi for public viewing. Members of the public will
also have an opportunity to view a permanent exhibition on the SS Mendi at the
Waterfront. The visit to the SAS Mendi by the dignitaries will be followed by a
symbolic march of soldiers going to war from Adderley Street to the Grand
Parade where formal proceedings start at 10h15.
The annual Remembrance Day service and wreath-laying ceremony will be held
on Sunday, 11 November 2007 in Adderley Street at 10h40 in honour of those who
lost their lives in instances of conflict. Preceding the official Remembrance
Day Ceremony the Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille will unveil a plaque at the
corner of Adderley and Darling Streets to commemorate the public observance of
the two minute silent pause of remembrance which originated at the very spot on
2 August 1919.
Media enquiries:
Mack Lewele
Tel: 012 441 3083
Cell: 082 450 5076
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
30 October 2007
