Thousands celebrate Africa
2003-05-25 16:03
Johannesburg - Tens of thousands of people gathered at Johannesburg Stadium on Sunday to celebrate Africa Day.
They were there to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity and to herald its transformation into the African Union (AU) with a new agenda for partnership and clean governance throughout the continent.
President Thabo Mbeki and First Lady Zanele Mbeki hosted the official function that was attended by various African heads of state, foreign ministers and other dignitaries. The foreign ministers had come from a four-day meeting in Sun City ahead of the next AU summit in Maputo in July.
The official function in the stadium was preceded by a street parade through central Johannesburg featuring dancers, school children, drum majorettes and floats.
In his address to the crowd, Mbeki urged all Africans to fight the demon of tribalism.
"Tutsi and Hutu are African ... Ndebele and Shona are African. We cannot afford the slaughter of one African by another, anywhere on our continent."
He said Africa had defeated colonialism and now it would defeat poverty and underdevelopment.
He said all efforts must be made to ensure the continent's prosperity and promised that the New Partnership for Africa Development - the centrepiece of AU policy - would prove that the time for change was now.
"We will succeed because we have an abiding faith in the ability of the masses of our people to affect change. These masses are the real agents of change."
Following Mbeki's speech, a star studded cast of singers and dancers took to the stage as the winter sun glowed over the 20 000 seater stadium.
Among the top artists taking part in the free concert include Brenda Fassie, Hugh Masakela, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbuli, Sibongile Khumalo and Jonas Gwangwa.
A stand-off developed between police and determined revellers who wanted entry into the already packed stadium. Police fired a stun grenade into the crowd to push the crowd back.
A Sapa correspondent on the scene said that some members of the public taunted the police and threw bottles at them. Mounted police were used to keep people away from the fences.
- SAPA