The Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa together with the Premier of the Free State Sefora Ntombela and members of the provincial cabinet namely MEC Tshidi Koloi and Maki Mahasa launched the Freedom Month on Wednesday, 07 April 2021 at the Tshepong Sports Facility, Verkeerdevlei, in the Free State Province.
The 2021 Freedom Month Launch was hosted under the theme, “the year of Charlotte Maxeke: the meaning of freedom under COVID-19”, in tribute to the 150th anniversary of the liberation struggle heroin and human rights campaigner, Charlotte Maxeke.
“ It is my singular honour and privilege to launch #FreedomMonth here in the Free State. This month we celebrate 27 years of the attainment of our freedom and democracy – the same number of years for which late President uTata Nelson Mandela was imprisoned by the apartheid regime, said Minister Mthethwa”
During the launch, Minister Mthethwa handed over sports equipment and kits to local schools. As part of the launch in Verkeerdevlei, the Minister and together with the Premier also visited the house of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the nearby Combi court which is still under construction in Brandfort
“It my pleasure to officially open and handover the Tshepong Sports Facility in Verkeerdevlei, Free State which will provide the community with the necessary recreational facilities to develop their sporting teams, stay active and participate in positive recreational activities, said Minister Mthethwa”
In the same veins the Premier of the Free-State reiterated that the occassion signals a great opportunity for the province to preserve its history for generations to come. As we build a better, advance Free-State in the commeroration if heroes and heroines. The premier had this to say;
“We were honoured by the presence of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa in Masilonyana local municipality earlier today.”
Further re-emphasised;
“Re tsamaya mehlaleng ya bahale. We will continue to honour and celebrate these heroines and many others who lead the struggle for freedom.” This further symbolises the significance to have community based programmes in honour of our community heroes and heroines, and not only those that led national struggles.
Yesterday also marked a significant day for South Africans, the 150th Birthday Anniversary of President Charlotte Maxeke. The Premier, as a government leader, and a leader of the African National Congress and that of the African National Congress Women’s League, she is a product, and cut from the cloth Ma’Maxeke teachings. Such teachings embrace African leadership, women leadership involvement in all key sites and stragetic positions of power, understood through historical process of development