Public Service and Administration Minister Mr Roy Padayachie is to launch a series of stamps to commemorate the arrival of indentured Indian labourers in South Africa over 150 years ago.
During the colonial era, the colonial government recruited Indian labourers to work in the sugar plantations of Natal. The “Truro” and “Belvedere ships” brought hundreds of Indians to the shores of Port Natal that inducted them to a life of contracted indenture in the sugar plantations and mills of colonial sugar barons.
In celebrating the anniversary of the arrival of the indentured Indian labourers to South Africa, the South African government through the Ministers of Public Service and Administration, Arts and Culture and Communications and the South African Post Office, will be issuing a series of commemorative stamps to mark the occasion of the 150th anniversary.
A ceremony will be held to mark this historic occasion on the morning of Sunday, 27 November. There will be an Inter-Faith religious ceremony at the Peace memorial at Belvedere township of Tongaat in KwaZulu-Natal at which several Cabinet Ministers and national dignitaries will be present.
The inter-faith gathering will be followed by the launch of the first issue of commemorative stamps. Three stamps which make up the first issue of a series of five stamps with an additional two stamps to be launched on 27 November 2012.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Inter-Faith ceremony:
Date: Sunday, 27 November 2011
Time: 9h00 - 12h00
Venue: Peace Memorial, Belvedere, Tongaat
Launch of commemorative stamps:
Time: 15h00
Venue: Sibaya Casino, 1 Sibaya Drive, Durban
For RSVPs contact:
Olebogeng Kgasi
Tel: 012 336 1206
Cell: 0767934229
E-mail: olebogengk@dpsa.gov.za
For further details contact:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
