20 Years of Freedom countdown clocks
The Department of Arts and Culture has been mandated on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, to create and drive a two-year long mobilisation programme in support of South Africa’s celebration of 20 Years of Democracy and Freedom.
Twenty (20) Years of Freedom is a countrywide campaign that brings together South Africans from different walks of life to celebrate our national pride and the achievements made since 1994.
As part of the build up to the celebration of South Africa’s 20 years of Freedom on 27 April 2014, the Department of Arts and Culture launched a series of 20 Years of Freedom countdown clocks at a range of public spaces such as malls around the country and at OR Tambo International arrivals.
The first 20 Years of Freedom countdown clock was activated at Maponya Mall in Soweto on 25 October 2013, by Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile,“...an opportunity for us as South Africans, to reflect on how our freedom and democracy was achieved. It is an opportunity to look back at the road we have travelled since 1994 to deepen the gains of our freedom and democracy”.
The countdown campaign is in partnership with Government Communications (GCIS), Brand South Africa, Proudly SA as well as Lead SA.
The countdown clocks are housed at promotional zones in malls, providing an opportunity for members of the public to share their comments and reflections on the milestones achieved. Campaign ambassadors are on site to assist the public channel their thoughts, memories and reflections of what the past twenty years have meant to them, using a mix of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
These experiential zones include an Express your Freedom location where for example South Africans can contribute to graffiti boards, a collection of which will be on display during the official ceremony marking the anniversary of our freedom, on 27th April 2014. (Please see list of Participating Malls below.)
The Social Media sites that can be accessed to participate in this interactive campaign are:
http://www.20yearsoffreedom.org.za
Twitter: @20_yof
The countdown campaign is just one activity aimed at mobilising South Africans behind the 20 years of freedom celebrations, Freedom Friday is another; this campaign was launched last year, in partnership with Lead SA, Government Communications and Information System (GCIS), Proudly SA and Brand South Africa. Freedom Friday encourages the nation to celebrate our ‘South Africanness’ by wearing whatever makes them proud to be South African. It could be a sports jersey, traditional dress or beaded suit.
The participating malls are:
Maponya Mall (Soweto, Gauteng)
Sandton City (Sandton, Gauteng)
Eastgate Mall (Bedfordview, Gauteng)
Northgate Shopping Centre, Randburg, Gauteng
Menlyn Shopping Centre, Pretoria
Liberty Midlands (Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu Natal)
Pavillion (Westville, Kwazulu Natal)
Liberty Promenade (Mitchells Plain, Western Cape)
Mimosa (Bloemfontein, Free State)
Greenacres (Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape)
Hemmingways (East London, Eastern Cape)
Mall of the North (Polokwane, Limpopo)
Modi Mall (Modimolle, Limpopo)
Blue Route Mall (Cape Town, Western Cape)
OR Tambo International arrivals
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
