The Department of Correctional Services and the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day are gearing up to break a Guinness world record of the largest blanket to celebrate in style 22 years of freedom this month. The initiative aims to beat the recent record set by India by laying down a 15 000 square meter blanket on 22 April 2016 at Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl, Western Cape, where Mandela took his first steps to freedom on 11 February 1990.
The theme of the event is "Knitting Broken Lives and our Nation Together". This refers to broken lives of both inmates as well as the victims of their misdeeds, who become integral to the initiative and the bigger mission of breaking the cycle of crime and healing of the society.
The adjudicators of the Guinness Book of Records will be in attendance to witness and confirm the record setting initiative. Some of the blankets will be handed over to the beneficiaries at the end the event.
The media is invited to join DCS and 67 Blankets for the Nelson Mandela Day as follows:
Date: 22 April 2016
Time: 10h00
Venue: Drakenstein Correctional Centre, Paarl
We wish to request media attending to please confirm attendance by sending their details to Zodwa Mtsweni at Zodwa.Mtsweni@dcs.gov.za or 072 311 3500.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 076 062 2180
