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Week of Events Planned to Honour Luthuli's Legacy
Week of Events Planned to Honour Luthuli's Legacy
The Chief Albert Luthuli Legacy Walk and Half Marathon, taking place on 22 July 2017, will be preceded by a full week of commemorative events and activities in honour of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of the African National Congress. Chief Albert Luthuli lost his life 50 years ago on 21 July 1967 after a suspect accident on a railway bridge in Groutville, KwaZulu-Natal.
The inaugural Chief Albert Luthuli Legacy Week kicks off on 17 July 2017 and incorporates several community events. It is being coordinated by Groutville community leader Zakhele Gumede and is endorsed by the Ilembe District Municipality, KwaDukuza Municipality, Enterprise iLembe and the Luthuli Museum.
On 17 July the museum - which includes the original 1927 home of Luthuli and is situated at 3233 Nokukhanya Luthuli Street in Groutville - will host senior citizens from KwaDukuza on an organised visit.
Nelson Mandela Day on Tuesday, 18 July 2017 will celebrate the meeting of Nelson Mandela and Luthuli with community work initiatives targeted at Groutville children. In addition, there will be a local 'empowerment dialogue' between male elders and young men, who will engage around the role of men in society.
The Groutville SMME Development Session takes place on 19 July 2017. The session will target both cooperatives and SMMEs and will focus on entrepreneurship and business opportunities within Groutville wards.
On 20 July 2017, the Chief AJ Luthuli by Arts exhibition at the Luthuli Museum will showcase art depictions of Chief Albert Luthuli by various talented local artists.
The 50th anniversary of Luthuli's death, 21 July 2017, will be commemorated at The Luthuli Museum. The organisers are also hosting a charity golf day at the Prince's Grant Golf Estate on the same day.
This will be followed by the main event, the Chief Albert Luthuli Legacy Walk and Half Marathon, on 22 July.
The week-long commemoration will conclude on 23 July 2017 with the Chief Albert Luthuli Holy Memorial Service hosted by the United Congregational Church of South Africa (UCCSA) in Groutville, where Luthuli is buried.
Now in its second year, the Chief Albert Luthuli Legacy Walk and Half Marathon is anticipated to become a highlight in the national calendar. With over 500 participants last year, organisers are expecting close to 5000 in this second year.
Highlights to look forward to along the 11.5 kilometre walk and 21 kilometre marathon routes include the Mahatma Gandhi memorial and statue of Chief Luthuli on Chief Albert Luthuli Street, the King Shaka Visitor's Centre which houses Shaka's grave, the Observation Rock upon which King Shaka used to sit and watch his impis according to Zulu history, the soccer field where then New York senator Robert F Kennedy's helicopter landed when he visited Chief Luthuli in 1966, and Luthuli's final resting place at the Groutville Congregational Church Graveyard. The town's Luthuli Museum has also been proclaimed a national monument.
The entry fee for the race and half marathon is R100.00 per person which includes a T-shirt and a badge. Registration for the charity golf day is R3000.00 per four-ball or R750.00 for singles, with overnight accommodation at Prince's Grant Golf Estate available if required and for the guest's own account. All proceeds will go towards Groutville Intuthuko Yethu NPO formed by the Groutville community.
Pre-registration for the Chief Albert Luthuli Legacy Walk and Half Marathon and the charity golf event is essential.
For more information or to register, visit https://www.luthuliwalk.org.za.
For all enquiries, contact organiser Zakhele Gumede on zsgumede@live.co.za or call 082 804 4488.