Nkosi Mandla Mandela, the head of the Mandela royal house and chiefdom in Mvezo, told the Daily Dispatch the event was being organised by the Mandela royal family and the Mvezo Traditional Council with support from the Universal Peace Federation.
“It is with regret that former president Thabo Mbeki will not be at the event. Former president FW de Klerk will send a recorded video of his message,” he said.
He said two former presidents – Jacob Zuma and Kgalema Motlanthe – would be speakers while Ramaphosa would deliver the key address on the meaning of the day and Madiba’s legacy.
Among the expected international guests are Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga.
This event is different to the main government event being held in Nasrec in Johannesburg.
Mandla Mandela said the event in Mvezo would be held in the same 5000-seater dome used for Madiba’s funeral service on December 15 2013 in Qunu.
“We set up the dome in the same fields of Mvezo which we feel is befitting, as it is on the hills where Madiba enjoyed walking. Even after his prison release he enjoyed taking walks in Mvezo, Qunu and Mqhekezweni.”
“Madiba was not born in any another place, including Nasrec, but in Mvezo. A centenary is about about one’s birth and birthplace where his umbilical cord was buried.”
Mandla said that his grandfather loved music and dancing.
“So we have reached out to the theme of 1988 of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday which was championed by the anti-apartheid campaign in London.
“We have invited the Mahotela Queens, who performed at the concert, and Vusi Mahlasela, Amanda Black and Simphiwe Dana to be a part of this occasion.
“But the day will not be complete without us as traditional council showcasing our culture. We have an ensemble consisting of many traditional groups from across the Eastern Cape who will be rendering performances, and also a choir.”
He said he was not happy with the treatment the family had received from the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up by Ramaphosa to oversee the centenary celebrations for Madiba and Albertina Sisulu.
Mandla said they had never had an audience with the leader of the committee, Minister Jeff Radebe.
“We have sent him dozens of letters requesting to have a meeting to engage on the plans of this centenary, but to this hour, we never had any joy out of his office. I believe that government and even the ANC itself is inundated with many programmes that are they committed to.
So ours is just to locate ourselves in this land where Madiba was born, confine ourselves within our jurisdiction as the Mvezo Traditional Council and do what will please our people most in this locality.’’..