TO ALL MEDIA
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
22 SEPTEMBER 2022
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government (ECPG) led by Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane will celebrate the Provincial Heritage Day as part of Heritage Month at Ngcobo on Saturday, 24 September 2022.
At the centre of this year’s celebrations, are government’s efforts to reiterate the positioning of Eastern Cape Province as the “Home of Legends”, with the unveiling of Walter Sisulu and Dr AB Xuma statues; to honour and immortalise their contributions in the realisation of freedom and the attainment of democracy.
The two life-size statues to be unveiled at Ngcobo’s Heroes Park will boost the province’s Liberation Struggle Heritage Route.
The programme on the day will also see the official launch of the new name and branding of Dr. AB Xuma Local Municipality, formerly known as Ngcobo Local Municipality.
The municipality’s name change was announced in June this year, to honour the late Dr. Xuma who was a medical doctor, a political activist and a former President- General of the current governing political party in the Republic of South Africa and former liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC).
The name change is also in line with the municipality’s stated objective to rebrand and reposition its image towards a renewed commitment to drive the ethos of service delivery excellence.
Heritage Day celebrations will be preceded by a Memorial Lecture on the legacies of Dr. AB Xuma and Walter Sisulu; both sons of Ngcobo, who played a significant role in the liberation struggle in the country, on Friday 23 September 2022.
Heritage Month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible, including creative expression through music, the performing arts, languages, multicultural national cuisine offerings as well as popular memory.
Members of the media are invited to be part of the Heritage Day celebrations as follows:
1. Memorial Lecture on the Legacies of Walter Sisulu and Dr Ab Xuma
Venue : Ngcobo Town Hall
Ngcobo
Date : Friday, 23 September 2022
Time : 17h00
2. Official Launch of New Name and Branding Of Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality
Venue : Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality Council Chambers
Ngcobo
Date : Saturday, 24 September 2022
Time : 09h00
3. Unveiling of Bronze Life-Size Statues of Dr AB Xuma and Walter Sisulu
Venue : Ngcobo Heroes Park
Ngcobo
Date : Saturday, 24 September 2022
Time : 09h45
4. Heritage Day Celebrations (Main Event)
Venue : Ngcobo Village Ground
Ngcobo
Date : Saturday, 24 September 2022
Time : 10h30
ISSUED BY: PROVINCIAL COMMUNICATION SERVICES – EASTERN CAPE
ENQUIRIES: KHUSELWA RANTJIE
ACTING GENERAL MANAGER: PROVINCIAL
COMMUNICATION SERVICE / SPOKESPERSON TO THE
PREMIER & GOVERNMENT
082 728 7476
SONWABO MBANANGA
DIRECTOR: MEDIA RELATIONS & MEDIA
PRODUCTIONS
082 045 3963