Council has special plans for Madiba

etHEKWINI Councillors will paid tribute to President Nelson Mandela at a special full council sitting at the City Hall this morning (Monday, 9 December.)

The sitting is part of the weeklong activities throughout eThekwini to commemorate and celebrate the life of President Mandela. Before the sitting councillors signed Condolence Books and put flowers at a special designated public area at Durban City Hall Church Square entrance. A musical tribute concert to celebrate Madiba’s life will take place on the City Hall steps at 1pm.

President Mandela passed away at his Houghton home on Thursday evening. A special memorial service was held at City Hall on Friday , 6 December. Mayor James Nxumalo and Executive Committee members visited a number of churches on Sunday, 8 December to join congregations in prayer as part of the National Day of Prayer and Reflection announced by President Jacob Zuma.

Mayor Nxumalo was joined by former National Police Commissioner and National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the African National Congress (ANC), Bheki Cele at the Umlazi Methodist Church. He also visited the Pinetown Christian Centre and the Kingdom Community Prayer Centre Church at Lindelani.

He told the congregations that the current generation should be grateful to have lived in the times of a great statesman like Madiba who touched and inspired millions of lives in South Africa and around the world.

Cele urged the church to ensure that Madiba’s teachings are not lost by always speaking out and giving guidance to the country’s leadership. “I want to urge the church to continue guiding us not to deviate from Madiba’s teachings. The church must always reprimand us as the ANC and government. You must speak out in order to protect Mandela’s legacy,” he said.

More than 150 Condolence Books will be supplied to all community halls, libraries, clinics and Sizakala Centres for members of the public to write their messages. Condolence Books have already been placed at Durban City Hall Church Square entrance, Main Library on Anton Lembede Street Entrance, Florence Mkhize Building on Anton Lembede Street, Musgrave Library in the Buxton’s Centre, Glenwood and the SABC Studios in K.E. Masinga Street. The Diakonia Council of Churches in St. Andrews Street will also have a Condolence Book available for members of the public to use and express their condolences for Madiba.

Mayor Nxumalo also announced other Mandela commemoration activities:

From 10th – 15 December 2013 the Municipality will activate public viewing areas to cover the tributes for Madiba and screen live the National Memorial Service in Johannesburg on Tuesday and the funeral service from Qunu on Sunday. The public viewing areas will be:

1. Zinto Cele Park – Umlazi (near King Zwelithini Stadium)

2. KwaMashu Township Park (TV Park)

3. Durban City Hall (Church Square)

On Friday, 13 December 2013, there will be a Provincial Memorial Service at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. A night vigil will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium People’s Park on Saturday, 14 December, and the funeral service will be screened live at the Park and public viewing areas on Sunday, 15 December.