Government Communications launches Milestones of Freedom Campaign in Hankey, 11 Aug
Eastern Cape Launches Milestones of Freedom Campaign with focus on young women entrepreneurs and honoring Sarah Baartman
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) to launch the Milestones of Freedom campaign in partnership with the Eastern Cape province and Kouga Local Municipality on the 11th of August 2026 at Vusumzi Landu Hall in Hankey.
The Milestones of Freedom campaign was launched nationally by President Ramaphosa on the 18th of June 2026. Since July, the GCIS has taken the campaign to provinces, with launches held in Gauteng, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, in partnership with the respective provincial governments.
The Eastern Cape launch will commence with a visit to the grave of Sarah Baartman in the company of the Khoisan traditional leadership and conclude with an intergenerational podcast panel discussion with women entrepreneurs.
Members of the media are invited to cover the events. The programme will unfold as follows:
TUESDAY, 11 AUGUST 2026
08h00: Wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of Sarah Baartman
MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Ms Nonkqubeka Pieters, Khoisan Chieftaincy and local municipal leaders will visit the grave of Sarah Baartman at Vergaderingskop near Hankey where she was born.
Ms Baartman was relocated from Eastern Cape to Cape Town in the 1770s to perform domestic duties. She was later taken to European countries like France and London. Because of her seemingly unusual body features to her captors, she was subjected to exploitation, racism and humiliation through public exhibition of her body. Her story symbolises the racism and exploitation experienced by Africans under colonialism. Her remains were eventually returned to South Africa in 2002 and reburied in her land of birth in Vergaderingskop on Women’s Day, 9th August 2002.
This wreath-laying ceremony fulfils the core of the objectives of the Milestones of Freedom campaign, which seeks to remember the past while delivering the future. The campaign provides an opportunity to contemplate the South African journey, share our narratives, and consider the nation's achievements over the past 30 years of the Constitution.
10h00: Intergenerational Women Entrepreneurial panel discussion and Keynote address
MEC Nonkqubeka Pieters will join women entrepreneurs in an empowering podcast conversation. The session seeks to position young women as drivers of economic development.
Following the panel discussion, the MEC will deliver the keynote address, highlighting the significant milestones in South Africa’s democratic journey, which are:
• the 30th anniversary of the Constitution;
• the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings;
• the 70th anniversary of the Women’s Anti-Pass Campaign; and
• the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.
Journalists wishing to cover the events are requested to confirm attendance with: Nandipa Sondati on 072 611 3990
Enquiries:
Nomonde Mnukwa
Acting Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 653 7485
William Baloyi
Deputy Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 390 7147
#GovZAUpdates
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
