Pretoria – The country's historic 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy next year promises to be nothing short of spectacular - with government expected to pull out all the stops.
Speaking to SAnews on Tuesday, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile said government was planning a spectacular line-up of events in the build-up to the 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy in 2014.
Mashatile said the planning will start after President Jacob Zuma’s address on Freedom Day later this month.
“Of significance is that we will use this year’s Freedom Day celebrations to launch a year-long build-up programme leading up to the historic 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy.
“As we celebrate our 20th anniversary of liberation, we hope to be joined by the people of the world, many of whom have made it possible for us to achieve our freedom and to sustain it for two decades.
“This year during the Freedom Month, the President (Zuma) will (give us) an indication on how we are going to celebrate the 20th anniversary of freedom and that will be the beginning of planning for the major celebration next year,” Mashatile said.
Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994 and since the dawn of democracy, the country has been commemorating Freedom Day on April 27 every year.
This year, President Zuma will give the keynote address at the Freedom Day celebration to be held at the Union Buildings under the theme: “Mobilising society towards our democracy and freedom.” – Sanews.gov.za
