News – Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

50th anniversary of the launch of Umkhonto weSizwe

‘Spear of the Nation’ launched 50 years ago with series of explosions

16 December 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

On 16 December 1961 South Africa’s armed struggle was formally launched with a series of explosions in the name of Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).

Nelson Mandela was the first commander-in-chief of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress.

Madiba’s personal chef releases her book

Ukutya Kwasekhaya: Tastes from Nelson Mandela’s Kitchen

12 December 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Publications

12 December, 2011 – The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory is delighted to announce the release of Ukutya Kwasekhaya: Tastes from Nelson Mandela’s Kitchen, a book by his long-time personal chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya.

Ukutya Kwasekhaya contains more than 60 recipes that Ms Ndoyiya has made for Mr Mandela and his family in the 19 years she has worked for him.

World Aids Day

1 December 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

1 December, 2011 – The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory notes and welcomes yesterday’s comments by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

Mr Motsoaledi was releasing the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey 2010 ahead of World Aids Day on December 1. “At the moment we are stable, but we think the war still has to be won,” said the minister.

Public scam warning

Fraudulent SMS promises compensation

3 November 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

3 November, 2011 – The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory has been made aware of a new scam doing the rounds, this time sent via SMS. The Centre of Memory urges the public not to be fooled.

Media release: Nobel Peace Prize winners

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory congratulates winners

7 October 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

From all of us at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory we would like to congratulate the three winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni Activist Tawakkul Karman.

Birthday wish for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Happy 80th birthday, Arch

7 October 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

On behalf of all of us at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, we would like to wish you a very happy birthday.

Opening of the ninth Mandela Day container library

Valspan Primary School in Northern Cape Province gets reading

8 September 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

8 September, 2011 – The ninth Mandela Day container library officially opened on 7 September, 2011 in Valspan Primary School, Jan Kemp Dorp in the Northern Cape Province.

Nelson Mandela’s authorised book of quotations published in French

7 September 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Publications

7 September, 2011 – Nelson Mandela By Himself: The Authorised Book of Quotations has been published in French. The French version of the book Pensees Pour Moi-Meme: Le Livre Autorise de Citations is published by Editions de la Martiniere in association with PQ Blackwell.

The Protection of Information Bill

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory interventions

18 August 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

In the last three years the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory has made a number of interventions in relation to the Protection of Information Bill.

Recommendations in respect of the Protection of Information Bill

18 August 2011 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

The dramatic surgery that the Protection of Information Bill has undergone during the course of the Parliamentary process has meant that it is now close to being an official secrets law of more or less conventional scope.  Such a law must strike a balance between, on the one hand, the principle of state security and the necessity to protect the inhabitants of the country against harm, and on the other hand, the countervailing principles of freedom of information, freedom of the media and the constitutional obligations of governmental openness and transparency.