City of Cape Town's Special Events on Heritage Day

Official events arranged by the City of Cape Town this Heritage Day 2008

A peace march hosted by the Methodist Church of South Africa will start at 11:00 at Rocklands Civic Centre, Mitchells Plain. Metro Police will be present to assist with traffic and pedestrian management. The march will proceed down Spine Road to the Educational Centre, where the crowd will listen to speeches and music.

The march, which aims raise awareness about crime and drugs and offer a spiritual alternative, is unique in that it will unite different religious groupings, including Muslims and Christians.

The City’s Sport and Recreation Department is hosting a community sporting day at the Athlone Civic Centre. The day’s activities will include games and demonstrations of popular sporting codes such as karate, soccer, netball and table tennis, and there will also be a spot for old favourites such as hopscotch.

Senior sporting participants will be encouraged. Jumping castles and face painting have been arranged for younger children. The event has been arranged to encourage involvement in sport as an alternative to crime and drugs.

The City’s Planning Department will be hosting the opening of a new slavery memorial at Church Square in central Cape Town. The event honours the memory of the many thousands of slaves on whose labour Cape Town was built.

Slavery in the Cape was officially abolished on 1 December 1834, although slaves were obliged to work for their ex-owners for a further four years before finally being accorded full human rights.

The opening will begin at 10:00 and end at 12:00.

Guest speakers include the Executive Mayor, Helen Zille, Councillors Marian Niewoudt and Brian Watkins and Beverley Krauts-Knipe of the South African Heritage Resources Agency.

Have a look at our other Heritage Day Events, and if you’re in the mood for a party, check out our Heritage Eve parties write-up. Happy Heritage Day!