Inmates to knit largest Mandela portrait

Johannesburg: In a novel initiative, hundreds of inmates from South African prisons will knit the world’s largest portrait blanket of Nelson Mandela that will be visible from space to mark the antiapartheid icon’s 100th birth anniversary next year.

The ‘Massive Mandela Masterpiece’ project is the brainchild of the ‘67 Blankets for Mandela’ organisation started a few years ago by Carolyn Steyn to knit blankets in honour of the number of years that Mandela has spent in service of his country.

The massive portrait is being made to mark Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary on July 18 next year.

“This will be the largest portrait blanket in the world,” Steyn said at the launch of the project by the Department of Correctional Services at the Zonderwater Correctional Centre on Friday. “Each blanket will measure 160 by 160 centimetres to make a pixel. Together in the right pattern, the blanket will measure about 4,500 square metres and you will not only be able to see Madiba’s face from the sky, but also from space,” Steyn added.

The huge blanket will be knitted from wool worth almost `14 million which has been donated by an anonymous wellwisher believed to be a wealthy businessman.

Steyn said she had started working with the inmates at prisons in 2014 so that they could spend their time constructively.