No Bay events for Freedom Day

The dawn of democracy has meant different things to ordinary people in the city who lived through the harrowing times of apartheid and who have spent the past 20 years building and rebuilding their lives in the new South Africa. A Port Elizabeth doctor, t

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will not spend a cent of its R1.4-million budget set aside for the 20 Years of Freedom celebrations to commemorate Freedom Day on Sunday due to budget constraints.

This comes after the ANC failed in its bid last month to get R5-million for democracy celebrations because it was unable to garner the 61 councillors needed in chambers to pass the required budget.

Municipal spokesman Roland Williams said yesterday the city did not have a single event planned for Sunday, and that the R1.4-million would be spent on events to be held throughout the year.

He said the main event would be on May 17, but did not elaborate. Williams said unlike previous years, national pride days had not been prioritised by the municipal budget since the 2010-11 financial year.

“Yes, in previous years a lot more was budgeted for national pride days such as Freedom Day, Youth Day, Women’s Day, Human Rights Day, Heritage Day and the Day of Reconciliation.

“Unfortunately, since the 201011 financial year, these pride days have not been prioritised in the municipal budget.

“The 20 Years of Freedom celebration runs throughout the year and is not particular to one specific day.

“With regard to Freedom Day, we encourage all residents of Nelson Mandela Bay to participate in and witness the national celebrations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape government will host several events to mark Freedom Day, with the main event being held in the Alfred Nzo District, in Mount Ayliff, on Saturday and Sunday.

Premier Noxolo Kiviet will host the provincial event, where she is expected to deliver an address about the government’s achievements over the past 20 years.

The celebrations start on Saturday morning with a 10km Freedom Day Marathon, a 5km fun run and mass aerobics. This will be followed by a social dialogue and an event to present the winning essays by pupils that focus on 20 years of democracy.

A prayer service will be conducted by the provincial chaplaincy at the Mount Ayliff Stadium on Sunday, followed by Kiviet’s address. ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the party would join the provincial government in commemorating Freedom Day by “telling the good story of the ANC-led government”.

DA leader Helen Zille was supposed to be in the Bay on Sunday, but she postponed her visit and will visit the city closer to election day. The DA’s provincial director, Elmarie Botha, said several prayer sessions would be held across the province on Sunday.

She was unable to confirm the venue for the metro’s event as yet.

UDM provincial chairman Mongameli Bobani said the party would meet at the Daku Hall in Kwazakhele to celebrate Freedom Day and remember fallen heroes.

He said UDM leader Bantu Holomisa would be introduced as the party’s premier candidate to Bay residents on Monday. COPE caucus leader Khwezi Ntshanyana said they would campaign door to door.