Drakenstein prepares for Madiba's birthday
2008-07-17
Jules Krige
IF you see some chefs hard at work in the middle of the Paarl Mall today - have a closer look: they are decorating the birthday cake for Madiba’s birthday bash at Drakenstein Prison on Friday evening. The Drakenstein Municipality is organising the celebration of President Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday on behalf of the National Government. “We will hold a gala dinner for a thousand guests in a marquee tent at Drakenstein Correctional Services, with Tokyo Sexwale, former Premier of Gauteng, as keynote speaker,” says Dr Sidima Khabanyane (Municipal Manager). There will be a live broadcast on SABC breakfast TV from the house where Mandela was held at the prison after his release from Robben Island, as well as from the marquee tent on Friday evening between 20:00 and 21:00 when the cake will be cut. According to Khabanyane, the guest list will consist of Drakenstein Municipality, the SABC, Western Cape Provincial Government, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Correctional Services, the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund and local businesses. Also on the programme are the Zonderwater Gospel Group, a marimba group and music by young drummer Danny Petersen. The overall cost of the event will be around R400 000 and businesses have been invited to contribute to the festivities. Amongst the many celebrations that are expected to take place in the country, this is the only one that will be broadcast live. The catering for the Madiba dinner party will be handled by the chefs who are involved in the Long Table Dinner during the Cultivaria Festival. They will be decorating the cake in the Paarl Mall today from 11:00. The cake will be on display in front of Edgar’s until Friday. The cake will be baked by Madeleine Buys of Wellington en will be decorated by the team of Proviant Hospitality and die Culinary Academy, with help from local chefs. The huge cake will be nearly three metres long and 68cm wide, with a map of Africa and Madiba’s face. The cake will be cut during a special ceremony at the dinner, after which each guest will receive a cup cake featuring Madiba, to take home. A statue of Mandela is to be unveiled at the prison gates next month.
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