The Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Me. Mathabo Leeto will unveil the statues of O.R Tambo and Fidel Castro as part of the Department’s programme to commemorate the contribution that both these struggle heroes made towards the liberation of South Africa from apartheid. Moreover, the unveiling of these statues coincides with the centenary celebrations of O.R. Tambo hence this year has been declared by the South African government as “The Year of O.R Tambo”.
The Department has been rolling out various programmes during the current financial year in honor of O.R. Tambo and more of these programmes will be accelerated specifically during the month of October which is O.R. Tambo’s birthday month. O.R. Tambo was the longest serving president of the ANC from 1969 to 1991. He has been described by President Jacob Zuma as a “solution oriented leader who always sought to move forward on the basis of building consensus”.
The unveiling of O.R Tambo and Fidel Castro statues will take place as follows:
Date: 24 October 2017
Time: 07:00
Venue: O.R. Tambo House & Fidel Castro Building (Mangaung)
Furthermore, MEC Leeto will re-open the Bloemfontein library which has been undergoing construction for the past three years. The construction of the Bloemfontein library formed part of the Department’s infrastructure programme to improve the standard of libraries throughout the Free State Province. The Bloemfontein library will be re-opened as follows: Private Bag X20606, Bloemfontein, 9300 Business Partners Building, Cnr Henry and East Burger Streets, Bloemfontein Tel: (051) 410 4735 Fax: (051) 410 4786 Email: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
Date: 24 October 2017
Time: 10:00
Venue: Cnr Charles & West Burger Streets (Mangaung)
Various dignitaries are expected to attend these events. They include Minister of Arts and Culture Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, Free State Premier Dr. Ace Magashule, Mr. Dali Tambo, Representative from the Cuban Embassy, and Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Me Olly Mlamleli.
“Let’s honor the sacrifices and contributions of O.R. Tambo towards a free, non-racial and democratic South Africa and use the centenary celebrations to learn more about the immense sacrifices our struggle icons made so that we can live in a democratic South Africa. O.R. Tambo also mobilized the international community to support our struggle against apartheid” said MEC Mathabo Leeto.
Your media house is invited to cover these events:
Tankiso Zola
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 – 410 4742/4786/4735
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
Facebook/Free State Twitter/fssacr Website/www.fssacr.gov.za
