Mandela Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony

Join Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism on the 18th July to celebrate the Nelson Mandela Centenary

As a destination named after the global icon Madiba, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) will host a special Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the Donkin Reserve this Mandela Day (18 July 2018), where a special edition Nelson Mandela Centenary flag will be raised for the first time between 07:30-08:30, in celebration Madiba’s Birthday.

The event will also be attended by NMBT Board representatives and CEO who will briefly share the importance of Mandela Day and the significance of the Centenary Flag.

“It is an honour for us to carry the name of the great Tata Madiba, and an even bigger honour to raise the Centenary Flag on Mandela Day for the very first time. Our aim is to promote the spirit of kindness and humanity amongst our locals and visitors, whilst setting the tone for all the Mandela Day initiatives taking place around the city that day.” shared NMBT CEO: Ms Mandlakazi Skefile.

The celebration will also introduce the start Mandela Fridays, where the Centenary Flag will be raised every Friday thereafter (weather permitting), with the aim of uniting locals and visitors in the spirit of humanity that Madiba stood for, also serving as a reminder to do something good and initiate a culture of kindness and service to humanity.

Commenting on the continued efforts to carry out the legacy of Madiba this year, Ms Mandlakazi Skefile said: “The Mandela Centenary does not stop after Mandela Day. In fact, our efforts will continue throughout this year with the introduction of Mandela Fridays. This is a great milestone and should be celebrated well beyond Mandela Day.”

The event will also serve as a platform to mobilise participation and support for the Trek4Mandela initiative and to bid NMB born Andisa Liba farewell as she joins a special team of climbers that will summit Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Mandela Day and the Caring For Girls Foundation, an initiative that raises funds to supply sanitary towels to approximately 500 000 underprivileged school girls around the country.

Stats have revealed that most impoverished girls miss up to 50 days of school annually due to menstrual related challenges. Andisa has nominated the girls of Kama Primary School in Molefe Secondary in New Brighton as her beneficiary, who she will support throughout the year, in honour of the Mandela Centenary.

The public and media are invited to join this special occasion and are encouraged to bring along packs of sanitary towels to donate towards the cause. Donation boxes will be stationed around the venue on the day.