SA to commemorate the 90th anniversary of SS Mendi tragedy
By Anele Siwa
06 November 2007
The Department of Arts and Culture, the Department of Defence, the Western Cape provincial government and the City of Cape Town will co-host commemorative events to mark the 90th anniversary of the SS Mendi and Remembrance Day.
“On 21 February 1917, six hundred and sixteen South Africans, who were members of the 50th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Corps, lost their lives when the ship they boarded in Cape Town, the SS Mendi, collided with the SS Darro near the Isle of Wight in the English Channel,” says Communication’s Officer for Arts and Culture, Mack Lewele.
Lewele says 616 South Africans lost their lives on their way to France to be part of the Allied Forces during the First World War 1914-1918.
“The commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the SS Mendi Tragedy will take place on 10 November 2007 at the Grand Parade in Cape Town,” Lewele elaborates.
“As part of the commemoration, the SS Mendi will be docked at the Cape Town Waterfront,” he says.
06 November 2007
The Department of Arts and Culture, the Department of Defence, the Western Cape provincial government and the City of Cape Town will co-host commemorative events to mark the 90th anniversary of the SS Mendi and Remembrance Day.
“On 21 February 1917, six hundred and sixteen South Africans, who were members of the 50th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Corps, lost their lives when the ship they boarded in Cape Town, the SS Mendi, collided with the SS Darro near the Isle of Wight in the English Channel,” says Communication’s Officer for Arts and Culture, Mack Lewele.
Lewele says 616 South Africans lost their lives on their way to France to be part of the Allied Forces during the First World War 1914-1918.
“The commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the SS Mendi Tragedy will take place on 10 November 2007 at the Grand Parade in Cape Town,” Lewele elaborates.
“As part of the commemoration, the SS Mendi will be docked at the Cape Town Waterfront,” he says.
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