DBE partners with Freedom Park and Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation to commemorate Africa Day
The Minister of Basic Education Mrs Angie Motshekga will deliver a keynote address at the commemoration of Africa Day on Saturday, 3 June 2017 at Freedom Park in Pretoria, Gauteng.
The occasion, hosted by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with the Freedom Park, Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation will serve as a stage to commemorate the centenary of the late hero Mr Oliver Reginald Tambo under the theme “Year of OR Tambo Unity in Action in building a better Africa and a better World”.
The African Freedom Day has been celebrated as far back as 1959 within the continent, including the African people living abroad. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was established on 25 May 1963 after a meeting of 32 heads of African states, took a decision to change the African Freedom day to Africa Day and celebrate it annually on 25 May.
The main focus of the commemoration will be on the selfless sacrifice of the courageous leader the late Or Tambo in Forging unity and building a better Africa and better World. It will therefore be befitting to also highlight some of the key values that Africanism has contributed to the lives of our fellow Africans on the continent as we African continent is celebrating African Month.
Other dignitaries that will grace the occasion include the Gauteng Education MEC Mr HA Lesufi, OR Tambo family, CEO of OR Tambo Foundation Ms L Vilakazi, CEO of Freedom Park Ms E Mofumadi, African Continent Ambassadors, Former Speaker of Parliament Ms Frene Ginwala, and former South African Ambassador to the US Ms Barbara Masekela and Chairperson of the Moses Kotane Foundation Mr J Kotane.
The former speaker of Parliament, Ms F Ginwala will also present on the courageous hero the late OR Tambo under the topic “The selfless commitment of the late Or Tambo in build a better Africa and a better world “and messages of support from Embassies, NGOs, Unions, Student formations and other stakeholders will be read at the event.
The official opening of the ceremony will also include the hoisting of both the AU and African Flags and the singing of the AU Anthem and the National Anthem. The learners and audience will be given an opportunity to engage the leaders on the presentations and on other views in relation to Centenary of OR Tambo and Africa Day.
Members of the Media are invited to attend the Africa Day commemoration as follows:
Date: Saturday, 3 June 2017
Time: 9h00
Venue: Freedom Park, Corner Koch St and 7th Ave, Salvokop, Pretoria
Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga (DBE)
Cell: 083 580 8275
