​As the continent celebrates 58 anniversary of Africa Day on 25 May 2021, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe has called for Africans in Gauteng and elsewhere to work together for the development and renaissance of the continent.
This year's Africa Month programme is being held under the theme; "Year for Arts, Culture and Heritage in the Year of Charlotte Maxeke". The month is an opportunity to promote African unity, deeper integration and recommit Africa to a common course.
"Africa Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we together have come in restoring and growing Africa, and where we need to go to achieve the Africa we want. The coming together of Africans is paramount if we are to build a united and able Africa. When all Africans embrace each other, their cohesiveness will inspire Africa to greater heights of self-productivity and self-sufficiency" says MEC Hlophe.
Gauteng is home away from home to many fellow Africans from across the continent looking for among economic and educational opportunities, peace, and stability. The province is regarded as a gateway into Africa, well positioned to find solutions to challenges facing the continent. As South Africa's capital, the City of Tshwane is home to 135 Embassies and High Commissions including those of Africa
According to MEC Hlophe with more than 58 years since the bringing together Africa with the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which later became African Union (AU), the need for the continent to unite and forge closer links has never been more important.
"As we seek to build, develop, and transform Africa we should embrace each other's struggles across every country throughout the continent. As South Africa we know that the struggle against apartheid was not only the struggle by the oppressed people of South Africa but that of Africa and beyond.
"It was through establishments like the OAU which later became the African Union that South Africa's struggle gained support of all of Africa and the world.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng provincial Africa Day celebrations will now be held on 30 May 2021 at Union Buildings in Pretoria Tshwane. The scaled down event will see not more than 250 people gather to take part in the programme to mark the 58th anniversary of the coming together of Africans.​