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The South African embassy in Qatar has been organising a number of activities in the countdown to the celebration of South African anti-apartheid revolutionary late president Nelson Mandela’s birthday anniversary on July 18.
As part of the ongoing campaign, South African expatriates led by the embassy staff conducted a beach cleaning drive at the Al Wakrah family beach that lasted 4 hours, recently
Also, a film, “Mandela Long Walk to Freedom”, which profiles Mandela’s early life, coming of age, education and incarceration for 27 long years was screened at Katara.
Outlining the programme, South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa said, “The activities are our countdown to July 18 grand finale, the Mandela birthday celebration. What we do in South Africa and across the world becomes a United Nations programme where everybody contributes 67 minutes of good work.”
The envoy said, in South Africa on July 18, people will go to schools, clean the beaches and do charitable work. “We South Africans are going to do something on July 18 in Qatar as well. We have not planned it yet but we will be doing some charitable and good work-something to represent what Mandela did for world and protection of human rights and environment.”
Talking about the beach cleaning activity carried out recently, Moosa said, “We started with picking up plastic items and anything else that littered the beach. We carried on with the job for about four hours. The beach-cleaning operation was taken up the next day, followed by screening of the movie. And come July 18, we will be doing something else for general good.”
He said the screening of the film was done in collaboration with Katara. “They have been wonderful in helping us roll out our programme.”
Talking about the film, the ambassador said, “Though the movie presents only a tip of what Mandela’s life was all about, it gives a significant insight into his inspirational life. Twenty-five years ago on April 27, Nelson Mandela led us into our first democratic elections. He became the first black president of South Africa.”
Moosa explained that Mandela was released from prison on February 11, and for the next 4 years he negotiated with the white colonists, which eventually led to peaceful elections and power transfer.
The film highlights how the apartheid regime declared Mandela a ‘terrorist’ and jailed him on the infamous Robben Island for his role as a leader of the then outlawed African National Congress.
He later achieved international recognition for his leadership as president in rebuilding the country’s once segregated society.
The movie also describes his political ascension and his belief that the struggle against apartheid in South Africa still continues.
Expressing appreciation of Katara’s role, the ambassador said, “We will be doing a lot of programmes together. They have really opened the door to us. We thank Katara for allowing the South African embassy to be part of the programme of this year.”
As part of the ongoing campaign, South African expatriates led by the embassy staff conducted a beach cleaning drive at the Al Wakrah family beach that lasted 4 hours, recently
Also, a film, “Mandela Long Walk to Freedom”, which profiles Mandela’s early life, coming of age, education and incarceration for 27 long years was screened at Katara.
Outlining the programme, South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa said, “The activities are our countdown to July 18 grand finale, the Mandela birthday celebration. What we do in South Africa and across the world becomes a United Nations programme where everybody contributes 67 minutes of good work.”
The envoy said, in South Africa on July 18, people will go to schools, clean the beaches and do charitable work. “We South Africans are going to do something on July 18 in Qatar as well. We have not planned it yet but we will be doing some charitable and good work-something to represent what Mandela did for world and protection of human rights and environment.”
Talking about the beach cleaning activity carried out recently, Moosa said, “We started with picking up plastic items and anything else that littered the beach. We carried on with the job for about four hours. The beach-cleaning operation was taken up the next day, followed by screening of the movie. And come July 18, we will be doing something else for general good.”
He said the screening of the film was done in collaboration with Katara. “They have been wonderful in helping us roll out our programme.”
Talking about the film, the ambassador said, “Though the movie presents only a tip of what Mandela’s life was all about, it gives a significant insight into his inspirational life. Twenty-five years ago on April 27, Nelson Mandela led us into our first democratic elections. He became the first black president of South Africa.”
Moosa explained that Mandela was released from prison on February 11, and for the next 4 years he negotiated with the white colonists, which eventually led to peaceful elections and power transfer.
The film highlights how the apartheid regime declared Mandela a ‘terrorist’ and jailed him on the infamous Robben Island for his role as a leader of the then outlawed African National Congress.
He later achieved international recognition for his leadership as president in rebuilding the country’s once segregated society.
The movie also describes his political ascension and his belief that the struggle against apartheid in South Africa still continues.
Expressing appreciation of Katara’s role, the ambassador said, “We will be doing a lot of programmes together. They have really opened the door to us. We thank Katara for allowing the South African embassy to be part of the programme of this year.”
