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Mbeki to deliver the Walter Sisulu Memorial Lecture, reflecting on the Freedom Charter

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Former President Thabo Mbeki will be delivering the Walter Sisulu Memorial Lecture on Saturday afternoon. Mbeki will reflect on the Freedom Charter endorsed in Kliptown, Soweto, on this day 66 years ago.

In 1955, the African National Congress (ANC) sent out 50 000 volunteers into townships and to the countryside, to collect “freedom demands” from the people of South Africa and the charter was officially adopted on Sunday the 26th of June.

Today’s lecture has been organised by the Walter Sisulu University Convocation to celebrate the life of the struggle stalwart.

A spokesperson for the University’s Convocation, Simthandile Ford says they are not only celebrating the life of Walter Sisulu but also of the people who were in Kliptown in 1955.

“Today is a day that we feel we are not just celebrating just a life that contributed to the democratic society, but we are also celebrating the people that were in Kliptown in 1955 to go and shape the vision of the society that they wanted to see. The university is also taking a new shape as it takes itself into a position of becoming an African university that seeks to pursue excellence in its programs.”

Last week, Mbeki paid tribute to Zambia’s late former President, Kenneth Kaunda, describing him as one of the architects of South Africa’s democracy.

Mbeki was reminiscing on the immense contribution Kaunda and his country afforded the ANC and its freedom fighters.

When the ANC was banned by the oppressive regime – Kaunda allowed the party to have its headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.

Kaunda died on June 17 from pneumonia.

Reflecting on the life and times of “KK” with Thabo Mbeki:

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