Centenary celebration worth every cent

November 25, 2011 | Filed underPopular News | Posted by editor
As Mangaung is set to host the centenary, opposition parties have been vocal about the money-spent. But the declaration of heritage sites is nothing new.
More than a 100 000 guests and 60 heads of state will descend on the Free State to enjoy the ANC centenary celebrations as well as visit several refurbished historical sites. It is all systems go for the most anticipated centennial celebrations of the oldest political party on the continent.
Chairperson of the National Centenary Task Team, ANC Chairperson Baleka Mbete, was in Bloemfontein this week to streamline preparations for the event which is scheduled to kick off in Mangaung in just over 40 days.
The spokesperson for the party in the province, William Bulwane, said preparations are at “an advanced stage”.
“We are pleased to announce that the implementation of the centenary preparation work is at an advanced stage and going very well.”
He said that the refurbishment of the Waaihoek Church, where the ANC was founded, will be completed by the handover date of December 6. The church will form the epicentre of centenary celebrations come January 8. It will be returned to its former glory to the tune of R35-million.
Opposition parties have criticised the costs associated with the refurbishment of the sites. However the refurbishment of historical sites is nothing new in South Africa. Other sites which were refurbished at a huge cost and declared national heritage sites in the past few years include the Afrikaans Language Memorial, Voortrekker Monument, Chancellor House, Mandela House, and Shaka Memorial.
According to the director of the Heritage, Museums, and Language Services in the Free State Department of Arts and Culture, Vincent Khetha, the Wesleyan section of the church has been provisionally declared a heritage site. The National Heritage Agency will visit Bloemfontein on December 2 to take the process further.
The house where ANC stalwart WinnieMadikizela-Mandela spent her exile at Brandfort has yet to be declared a heritage site; it has however been refurbished and turned into a museum.
Khetha said the grave where Thomas Mapikela, a founder member of the ANC, was buried in Phahameng has been declared a heritage site. His house has also been declared a heritage site.
Another noteworthy site is that of the grave of Dr JS Moroka in Thaba Nchu, which will also be declared a heritage site when the agency visits the metro.
The family of RZ Mahabane has also consented that his grave in Kroonstad be declared a national heritage site.
Khetha could not divulge the costs related to these projects as the department was not involved in the financial planning.
Another exciting development is the commissioning of a statue of Nelson Mandela. The project has received private sponsorship and the Office of the Premier will be responsible for allocating a site. They will divulge the details in due course.
Ready for celebrations … ANC spokesperson William Bulwane said centenary preparations are at an advanced stage
The recently re-opened Phillip Sanders resort will house Luthuli House during the tenure of celebrations in the Free State.
Responding to allegations of exorbitant costs, Bulwane said the emphasis should be placed on the legacy of the event and not the amount of money that would be used to host it, as widely criticised in the media.
“In fact the ANC is going to use the same systems used during the 2010 World Cup to minimise expenditure as far as possible.”
The official centenary celebration programme will start in Waaihoek with an interfaith night vigil to invoke the spirits of the ancestors of the movement on January 6. The Centenary Torch will also be lit during this event which will be attended by kings, chiefs, and traditional leaders and healers.
A presidential gala dinner will be hosted on January 7 and President Jacob Zuma will address delegates.
The main event will be held at the Free State Stadium on January 8 where about 100 000 people are expected to attend. At least 70 000 of the guests are expected to come from the Free State. The Cricket Stadium, Athletics Stadium, as well as Loch Logan will be used as overflow areas for this event where Zuma will deliver the NEC Centenary statement.
Every month through-out the year the ANC president will conduct centenary lectures in each province which will focus on the life and work of former party leaders.
These lectures will commence in the Free State with the first one focusing on ANC president uBabaUlangalibalele John Dube (Mafukuzela) who presided over the ANC from 1912-1917. Dube and the collective that served with him would be celebrated and remembered under the theme: “100 Years of Selfless Struggle”.
The month of December 2012 will focus on honouring current President Jacob Zuma.
When addressing the media, last week, the provincial secretary, Sibongile Besani, said as the president, Zuma started serving the movement in 2007 and is still the president of the ANC and people of South Africa. He will be saluted under the theme “Peace, Freedom and Security”.
The province has also put together a number of build up events to mobilise communities and create a centenary mood leading towards January 2012.
During November memorial lectures on political education and empowerment were presented across the province. The leadership of the ANC were also deployed throughout the Free State with the aim of strengthen and empowering branches to lead communities effectively.
Later this month, the focus will be on celebrating the Liberation Heritage Route, which starts at Mapikela House and ends at Bram Fischer House.
A fun run is also planned towards the end of November to mark the countdown of under 40 days before the centenary.
During December, activities will focus on the commemoration of the Maseru Massacre. This would mark the 29th anniversary of the incident in which 42 people were brutally executed by the apartheid regime.
The Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association will also celebrate its 50th anniversary   during the same month.
Various artistic projects have also been commissioned to ensure the commemoration is cemented in history. These include memorial books, documentaries, and sculptures.
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