The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and Avbob officially kicked off the 27 For Freedom Festival on Saturday, 27 January 2018 with the Madiba Centenary Soccer Challenge at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl.
The aim of the festival is to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela as he dedicated his life to freedom and spent 27 years in jail for the freedom of all South Africans.
Jeremy Matheyse, Area Commissioner, welcomed participants from various soccer clubs in the Cape Winelands Area to the soccer challenge. “This year we celebrate Madiba’s Centenary and for this reason we have expanded the 27 For Freedom programme with more sport, arts and culture and academic activities” said Matheyse. He also wished players luck for the challenge.
Eight teams participated in the senior category and three in the youth category, which played Futsal (5 a-side). The teams played their hearts out and Battalion Soccer Club from Mbekweni claimed victory in the senior category and the team from Kayamandi Secondary School won the youth category.
The public is urged to support and participate in the festival especially the 27ForFreedom Race that will take place on Saturday, 10 February at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre. The 27km route symbolises the 27 years Madiba spent in prison. Runners and walkers will walk/run along the same route that was taken by Madiba as he left prison, from Madiba House, along the Long Walk to Freedom, to the Madiba Statue at the entrance of the Correctional facility. Pre-entries have closed and only entries for the 5km Freedom route will be available on the morning of the race. A free public concert will commence at 12:00 on race day and everyone is welcome to attend.
Here is the full programme:
3 February: 27 For Freedom Rugby 7’s Tournament
3 February: 27 minutes aside Chess Tournament
5 – 8 February: Madiba Centenary Arts Exhibition, Open MIC Poetry and a creative writing challenge
6 February: Madiba Centenary Inter-University Colloquium
7 February: 27 For Freedom Memorial Lecture
8 February: Madiba Centenary Seminar on Sport
9 February: Madiba Centenary Boxing Challenge
10 February: 27 For Freedom Race and Freedom Concert
11 February: Inter-denominational Gospel Afternoon
For full details of these events visit the website or follow the latest updates on Twitter @27FORFREEDOM
DCAS supports sporting festivals across the province. We encourage everyone to get involved and attend these events in order to grow sport in the Western Cape BETTER TOGETHER.
Dr Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za