Freedom Day celebrations start
2005-04-27 10:35
Durban - Hundreds of people have already gathered for Freedom Day celebrations at Durban's Absa stadium where President Thabo Mbeki is expected to address the gathering later on Wednesday.
An organiser told Sapa said they had catered for 45 000 people and had made arrangements to accommodate up to 100 buses which would transport people from around the province.
At the entrance to the stadium people were expected to pass a security check and were each given a South African flag and a poster containing government information.
The thousands would not go hungry either because each person would receive a brown paper bag containing chicken, a bread roll and fruit juice.
The crowds were a mixture of young and old, monitored by a large security contingent.
Freedom Day marks the ushering in of South Africa's first democratically elected government 11 years ago.
Other gatherings have been arranged around the country with Tony Leon, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, billed to deliver his Freedom Day message at the Rocklands Sports Field in Mitchells Plain outside Cape Town.
- SAPA