Ekurhuleni – get your knitting needles and crochet hooks ready: 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is coming soon!
On 7 February 2015, KnitWits for Madiba will gather at the Adelaide Tambo Cultural Centre in Wattville, Benoni, from 10.30am to 3pm for a knit-a-thon. This activity forms part of the My Body My Space festival of public arts.
The My Body My Space festival is co-ordinated by the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC) and will take place from 2 to 7 February. Featuring a range of works by Johannesburg’s top contemporary choreographers and dance companies, and community-based artists, it celebrates 20 years of democracy as it explores issues relating to gender violence and the impact of HIV/Aids.
The festival also aims to re-stitch communities and spaces that have previously been separated; to shine a light on the role of women, children and other vulnerable members of society; and find a shared voice and experience around critical, personal and social issues.
“We are very excited about partnering with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day and would like to encourage the community of Ekurhuleni to get involved in this do-good movement,” says Alba Letts, Divisional Head of Arts, Culture and Heritage at the City of Ekurhuleni.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has already hosted knit-a-thons on Robben Island, at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick, at Madiba’s old stamping ground – Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, and at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. Now it’s Ekurhuleni’s turn.
Carolyn Steyn, Founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, says: “Both veteran knitters and novices are encouraged to attend the knit-a-thon. Crochet lessons will take place throughout the day. Our goal is to collect 21 000 blankets from around South Africa before April 2015.
“These blankets will first be displayed at the feet of the Nelson Mandela statue at the Union Buildings on 21 April 2015. This will be to celebrate our 21 years of democracy in our country.
“Airlink and Stuttaford Van Lines have come on board to collect these thousands of blankets from all around South Africa and will then return the blankets to their places of origin, to be distributed to those in need as soon as the cold strikes.
Steyn concludes by adding: “The Tambos were close friends of Madiba, so the venue is very significant.”
For more information, please visit and join the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day (South Africa) Facebook page, follow the project on Twitter or visit www.67blankets.co.za.