DCAS Supports the PURPLE March for the Arch

On 16 December 2015 the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government participated with the people of Cape Town in the PURPLE march for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond and Leah Tutu on the Day of Reconciliation.

The theme for the day was PURPLE, an acronym for Prayer, Unity, Reconciliation, Peace, Love and Equality and honoured their contribution to promoting peace, reconciliation and equality in our country.

People gathered at the concrete hand imprints of the Arch at the Prestwich Memorial in Cape Town and crafted their own posters. Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille, Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, and various interfaith leaders led the march along the Fan Walk route.

The Arch and his wife welcomed the purple sea of people at the Cape Town Stadium Forecourt and Mayor De Lille, Minister Marais and Reverend Mpho Tutu delivered inspiring messages about reconciliation.

The crowd stood in awe when purple confetti was released under the energetic sounds of a pennywhistle playing ‘Special Star’. A colourful cultural festival continued with the Soweto String Quartet, Jimmy Dludlu and Alistair Izobell and Friends in a relaxed picnic atmosphere. 

Minister Anroux Marais said: “Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Mama Leah have become synonymous with reconciliation, not only in South Africa but the world over. Their selfless contribution to social inclusion through reconciliation reminds us that our beauty lies in our diversity and that there is no future without forgiveness because essentially, we are better together.”