Due to a high number of interested groups, schools, individuals and potential sponsors etc. who would like to take part, the cycle tour has been planned to take place in December 2015. What started as a mere good gesture has now turned into a national project seeking to include each and every South African who loves their history and heritage!
The plan is as follows:- The SADFA, as our main sponsor and organizer has decided to include all South Africans, especially the military veterans who have fought for SA. The SADFA has as its objectives to Commemorate, to give Recognition and to encourage Reconciliation. The aim of the project is to take some of the lessons of the past and together build a better future for all in South Africa.
The theme is: “Swords into Ploughshares”.
The concept is to have 9 teams of military veterans, school children and history enthusiasts simultaneously participating in an “Amazing Race”, visiting each and every Concentration Camp around South Africa over the period 1 – 15 December 2015, planting commemoration crosses as they go, and collecting two stones from each concentration camp site. This will culminate in the building of the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902 (South African War 1899-1902) Concentration Camps Reconciliation 5 Monument at Petrus Steyn Train Station, a heritage site which will also be home to Elandskop Museum on 16 December 2015.
Each province and its towns along the route will form a Local Heritage Committee or Local Organizing Committee, responsible for preparing and hosting the events and mobilizing their own communities in the process. Local, national and international media coverage will be arranged for the whole event.
Toastmasters International will assist in presenting a national competition and provide training to secondary school pupils across the country to select the main speakers at each event on the theme: “What lessons can be taken from this tragedy 115 years ago, in making South Africa the country of our Future!”
The best school speaker will have the stage at the final event on 16 December where all 9 teams and the participants, schools, historians, dignitaries and the community of Petrus Steyn/Mamafubedu will be gathered for the unveiling of the monument and the official opening of Elandskop Museum. The above mentioned endeavour will promote the efforts of the get Elandskop Museum to establish them as a tourist attraction. The train station will be all fully restored to host visitors and to provide them with diverse fun filled services: inter alia, accommodation, coffee shop, book shop, local tour guides, amusement park etc.
Hiking trails will lead to the newly declared heritage site, Elandskop Hill, a famous hill used as a heliograph station during the ABW and also a base for the Boer General: Christiaan De Wet and not forgetting the local monuments and Renoster river fountain (Origins) It should also be an inspiration to many others to take the initiative the same way as Twin Mosia is doing, in making a difference in his own town – “Where there is a Will, there is a Way”
To enhance the experience and promote general tourism to each of the Concentration Camp and other historical sites throughout South Africa, the new technology will be utilized:
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| Krugersdorp Concentration Camp Graves Foto: Petro Meyer |
2. The Maps are GPS enabled and will show you how to get there; GPS coordinates and links to relevant websites! This is a must have for every family going on holiday!! This App will make your road trip interesting and memorable! This is truly South African, for South Africa.
3. On each site a Treasure Hunt is now being developed. This will enable you and your family/tour mates to discover what really happened where on the site, with pictures, videos and text linking you to your genealogy, finding the hidden treasure, and learning through a unique “Edutainment” the realities of the past. Access will also be through the above mentioned App and available in 5 languages.
Participating in this Amazing Race will be military veterans from all over the spectrum - MK/APLA/AZANLA/Transkei/Bophuthatswana/Venda/Ciskei/CMVO/MOTHs/SA Legion/32 Battalion/61 Mech/Infantry Association etc. etc. The aim will be to demonstrate solidarity, our seriousness in changing swords into ploughshares and together using our skills and experience to assist in building a better future for all.
Therefore, interested groups from 9 Provinces are needed with me, Twin Mosia doing the Free State Province. Come join our social responsibility program creating jobs and help in preserving our heritage sites.
Contact details are as follows for further details:
Twin Mosia twinmosia@yahoo.com
+27 83 986 1855
Jan Malan jan@streetsafe.co.za
+27 82 784 0807
(From Doreen Piner)
Inligting vanaf Johannesburgtak van GGSA se Nuusbrief
