President Ramaphosa to participate in UDF40 national celebration

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 20 August 2023, participate in a national celebration of the launch – 40 years ago to the day – of the anti-apartheid United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Rocklands Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town.

Sunday’s national celebration has been organised by UDF40, a formation headed by founding UDF leaders to celebrate and commemorate the UDF’s legacy and rekindle, through community-led action, the movement’s core principles of non-racialism, non-sexism and democracy in present-day South Africa. This reignition is framed by the theme “Building Active Citizenry for Accountability and Transformation”.

The occasion in the Old Johannesburg City Hall from 13h00 to 17h00 on Sunday is part of an extensive programme of celebratory and commemorative events around the country to recall the establishment of the UDF, reflect on its contribution to the liberation struggle under its 1983 “UDF Unites. Apartheid Divides” banner, and to deliberate the application of its values to South Africa today.

Sunday’s event will feature reflections by different sectoral representatives on the relevance today of the UDF; recollections of the diverse campaigns and organisations which formed part of the UDF’s mobilisation, and a high-level discussion on the legacy of and lessons from the UDF.

President Ramaphosa will participate in this high-level discussion alongside Archbishop Thabo Makgoba and Popo Molefe, who was part of the formation of the UDF and was elected as Secretary of the Transvaal region before becoming National Secretary.

Sunday’s event will also commemorate the sacrifices made and struggles faced by activists and community members associated with the UDF.

A cultural programme will run throughout the proceedings.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria