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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Walking Route 67

By

MBDA

As part of Mandela Month, the Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), will be giving 100 Grade 7 learners from the Northern Areas and Townships in Nelson Mandela Bay the opportunity to experience and walk Route 67 in the inner city of Port Elizabeth.

This historic Route which is still work in progress, celebrates the 67 years of public life of Nelson Mandela and will appropriately include a total of 67 giant steps and 67 public art pieces by 67 local Eastern Cape artists. The Route starts at Jetty Street, and visitors will walk past the Campanile, through Vuyisile Mini Square, past the historic City Library, up the steps of St Mary’s Terrace and on to the Donkin Reserve. The walk culminates in the Great Flag, a landmark symbol of our achievement of democracy and which is the biggest flag in South Africa presently. In addition, an amphitheatre is set to become the focal point of art, music and to ensure that the ancient tradition of story-telling continues for generations.

The learners will walk the Route 67 and at the Donkin Reserve will receive a short lecture on the history of our City and its connection with Nelson Mandela and his political life and contribution to the freedom struggle in SA. The kids children will also have the opportunity to write personal messages on a framed canvas which will be presented to the Nelson Mandela Foundation at the MBDA Urban Lifestyle Conference. Route 67 will be officially launched on 24 September, as part of the Lifestyle Conference, and which will also include an urban run in the inner city.

“MBDA hopes to instil a sense of pride and passion in the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, the only municipality that has been given permission by the Mandela Foundation to use the name Nelson Mandela Bay for our region. It is never too early to teach youngsters about the heritage and history of our friendly city” said MBDA CEO, Pierre Voges.

This will be the second Mandela Month event staged by the MBDA, the first being on the 18 July at the Missionvale Care Centre, where MBDA and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality staff attended and gave 67 minutes of their time to community projects in the area.

The MBDA has become the driving force in urban regeneration in Nelson Mandela Bay, with the aim to promote economic and tourism development against the backdrop of urban renewal. Projects already implemented by the Agency include the Govan Mbeki Avenue, Parliament Street, Strand Street and Donkin Reserve environmental upgrades.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 27 July at 10:00 and will start at the Campanile in Strand Street. For more information, please call Chuma Myoli 0n 078 518 5702/041 501 8305.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.