UP TO 20,000 nostalgic South Africans will today re-enact the historic moment Nelson Mandela walked free from prison, as part of an event organised by the African National Congress (ANC) to commemorate the occasion’s 20th anniversary.
However, the excitement that initially surrounded the “freedom walk” was somewhat dampened yesterday when the ANC confirmed the country’s first democratically elected president would not be joining participants because of his advanced years. The 91-year-old will make only one official appearance in Cape Town to mark the day he walked out of Victor Verster Prison a free man after 27 years of incarceration by the apartheid regime.
Referring to Mandela using his clan name “Madiba”, the ANC said: “The only activity that Madiba will attend is the state of the nation address, which will take place on Thursday evening in parliament.” In his absence, Mr Mandela’s former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who walked hand in hand with him as he left prison on February 11th, 1990, will headline the event.
She will lead participants on a 500m walk from the gates of the prison, located an hour outside Cape Town, to symbolise the moment he was set free.
It appears South African president Jacob Zuma and his ANC government have sought to capitalise on the feelgood factor surrounding the day, as they have moved the annual state of the nation address from last week to this evening. Parliament’s national assembly speaker Max Sisulu said on Monday that MPs felt especially honoured that Mr Mandela had accepted an invitation to hear Mr Zuma’s speech in person.
“The sheer presence of the man provides any occasion with grace and honour,” Mr Sisulu said.
Hundreds of VIPs, former struggle heroes and dignitaries, from South Africa and abroad, have also been invited to attend parliament, where a guard of honour, comprising civil society groups, will welcome Mr Mandela.
Public participation across the country is also being encouraged, and for those with access to a computer a “virtual march” of more than 11,000 young people is being staged on the internet.
Tonight’s speech by Mr Zuma has taken on added significance with him attempting to improve his image since becoming embroiled in controversy. Two weeks ago, local media revealed he had fathered his 20th child out of wedlock last October.
His actions in a country grappling with a HIV epidemic have sparked public outcry, which prompted the polygamist to apologise for his indiscretion to try to repair the damage he has done to government and the ANC.
Opposition parties have called for Mr Zuma to stand down, and his actions are continuously being measured against Mr Mandela’s in relation to how the president of South Africa should conduct himself.
A planned walkabout on Monday by Mr Zuma in Gugulethu, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, was cancelled, allegedly because of fears there might be protests linked to his sexual conduct.