City to Commemorate Remembrance Day

The Annual Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held at 11:00 on Sunday, 11 November. Mayor Helen Zille will lead diplomats, religious leaders, members of the SA National Defence Force and other dignitaries, in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph in Adderley Street.

Remembrance Day will this year form part of the commemoration of the sinking of the SS Mendi for which the official ceremonies will take place at 10:30 on Saturday, 10 November, at the Grand Parade in Cape Town under the auspices of the Minister for Arts and Culture, Minister Pallo Jordan.

Remembrance Day is observed worldwide to commemorate the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when World War I finally came to an end. Although 25 000 South Africans from all races and creeds died in WW I, a two-minute silence is observed for all who died in all wars in the cause of peace and freedom.

Also attending will be the captain of the HMS Southhampton, currently berthed in Table Bay Harbour, Commander Richard Morris, and his crew.

During the ceremony, there will be a fly past of Dakota aircraft which played a significant role in the Allied victory in World War II.

Prior to this ceremony, at 10:00, the Mayor will unveil a plaque at the corner of Adderley and Darling Streets in the City Centre, to commemorate the two minute silent pause of remembrance, a tradition now observed throughout the world, which had its origins in a memorial service held at this spot on 2 August 1919.

All media are welcome at the ceremonies:

DATE: Sunday, 11 November 2007
TIME: 10:00
VENUE: c/o Darling & Adderley Streets, Cape Town

DATE: Sunday, 11 November 2007
TIME: 11:00 (please be seated by 10: 45)
VENUE: Cenotaph, Adderley Street, Cape Town (between Riebeeck Street and the Fountain Circle)

In order for the ceremony to take place, Adderley Street, between Strand and Hertzog Boulevard, will be closed to traffic from midnight on Saturday, 10 November to 14:30 on Sunday, 11 November 2007.

Hertzog Boulevard between DF Malan and Heerengracht - the two left-hand lanes on Standard Bank Centre side - will be closed on Sunday from 06:00 to 14:30.

Issued by:
Lisle Brown
Media Liaison Officer - City Of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 3065
Cell: 084 888 1901

Communication
City Of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201

Media Queries:
Fritz Marx
Manager: Protocol & Mayoral Events
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 1217
Cell: 084 410 1332