Human Chain for Mandela Day

If you are in or near Cape Town, I warmly urge you to join our human chain on Thursday, 18 July - Madiba's 95th Birthday. And if you cannot join us, then make your own human chain wherever you are.

Media Statement - 13 July 2013

A HUMAN CHAIN IN HONOUR OF MADIBA

Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba today called on churches, mosques and synagogues to join him in forming a human chain on Thursday to commit to the Mandela dream of a united South Africa free from poverty.

He also called on all young people of the Cape to come forward and commit to take up the baton that Madiba’s generation is handing over to them. “This is a time that we must continue to sow the seeds of love and not destruction so that we can give hope to all in our beautiful country,” he said. “It requires us all to roll up our sleeves and conduct ourselves in a dignified way,” he added.

The Human Chain for Madiba will snake its way from Gugulethu through Athlone to Rondebosch on Mandela Day between 1p.m and 2p.m. The organising team convened by Bush Radio this week is made up of a team of youth from a host of organisations including individuals committed to finding a way to demonstrate their love to Madiba as he lies ill in hospital. Some of these organisations include the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum, The Cape Cultural Collective, the Claremont Main Road Mosque, the Gugulethu Advice Office, the Athlone Advice Office and a number of community radio stations.

A logistics meeting will take place with the City on Monday to wrap up the organisational process. Marshalls are needed to manage the chain and organisers are calling on volunteers to come forward. Members of the public can call community radio stations lobbying for public participation to volunteer their help. A facebook page(www.facebook.com/HumanChainMandelaDay) and twitter account will go live today. “We want this to be a major community effort including all who wish to participate,” the Archbishop said. “If you are too far from Klipfontein Road, make your chain around your school or your factory or your church.”

The committee is drafting a pledge which will be released to the public on Monday. “We have in Madiba one of the world’s greatest leaders,” said Makgoba. “It is not always in the life of a people that they are so blessed with inspirational and visionary leadership. It will be a shame if we squander his legacy.”

*Please note that this event is dependent on permission from the City of Cape Town.

For further enquiries, contact:
Imam Rashid Omar, Claremont Main Road Mosque at 078 271 4440
The Office of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town: Ms Wendy Kelderman 021 763 1320 (office hours), or Revd Canon Dr Sarah Rowland Jones 082 856 2082 (out of office hours)

Email: humanchainmandeladay@gmail.com