Media Alert: Madiba's prison release to be commemorated by Minister Marais | Western Cape Government

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Media Alert: Madiba's prison release to be commemorated by Minister Marais

8 February 2019

Ahead of the 29th annual commemoration of Tata Madiba’s release from Victor Verster Prison on 11 February 1990, Minister Anroux Marais will officially celebrate his legacy while acknowledging our shared heritage in the coming days.

Tomorrow, 9 February 2019, Minister Anroux Marais will officially start the 27 for Freedom Run at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre. The 27 for Freedom Run provides all South Africans, young and old, an unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Madiba as he paved the way to the building of a democratic society – a small step in the eyes of many, yet a giant leap for all South Africans and the world at large. Entrants will participate in the 27km, 10km or 5km fun run with various activities on the day.

On Monday, 11 February 2019, Minister Marais will unveil the Provincial Heritage Site plaque at the Rex Trueform Factory Complex in Salt River. The Rex Trueform Factory Complex is socially and architecturally significant as it is testimony to both the worker’s rights movement and the modern functionalist movement of the mid-20th century. Once a giant in the global clothing industry, Rex Trueform employed many residents of the then “coloured” Salt River district and even further away from the Cape Flats. Together with the expert assistance of Heritage Western Cape and the City of Cape Town’s facilitation, the historical significance of the Rex Trueform Factory Complex will now officially be acknowledged and will rightfully be promoted in the public domain as a Provincial Heritage Site.

Thereafter, Minister Anroux Marais will launch the Drakenstein Revisited Exhibition at the Mandela House at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre. At Victor Verster, Mandela was not imprisoned with other prisoners, but instead was kept secluded in a house which had previously been warders’ accommodation.  This was to facilitate the secret meetings which took place to pave the way for negotiations that would end apartheid. The house has not been curated and only open to visitors on request.  The Drakenstein Revisited Exhibition is made up of 30 framed photographs, as well as a video of an interview with Jack Swart, who was the warden responsible for cooking Nelson Mandela’s meals at the time.

ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

27 FOR FREEDOM RUN SHOOT OFF:
Date:           Saturday, 9 February 2019
Time:           06h00
Venue:        Drakenstein Correctional Centre  

PROVINCIAL HERITAGE SITE PLAQUE UNVEILING:
Date:           Monday, 11 February 2019
Time:           11h00
Venue:        263 Victoria Road, Salt River

LAUNCH OF MANDELA HOUSE EXHIBITION:
Date:           Monday, 11 February 2019
Time:           18h30Venue:        Drakenstein Correctional Centre

There will be opportunities for photographs and interviews.

Media Enquiries: 
Stacy McLean

Spokesperson for Minister Anroux Marais
Email: Stacy.McLean@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 083 504 1171