Mandela's 89th birthday celebrations

As part of the celebrations of Nelson Mandela's 89th birthday, Makana Football Association was awarded with the honorary member ship by the international football federation FIFA. The club was established by prisoners of Robben Island in 1966 and was the light in the lives of many prisoners incarcerated because of the political views. The following photographs are an impression of the ceremony which was held on Robben Island on July 18, 2007.

Tokyo Sexwale, member of FIFA's local organizing committee
which has the responsibility to make sure the world cup soccer

which is to be held in South Africa in 2010 is a great success.
Tokyo Sexwale is a former Robben Island prisoner, a Makana FA
player and possibly South Africa's next president.

Tony Sexwale speaks about life on Robben Island, Makana FA,
the role football played and the necessity to combat racism world wide.

Tony Sexwale speaks about how prisoners arrived on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela,
the role football played in his life and the necessity to combat racism world wide.

Leonard Ramatlakane, a former Robben Island prisoner

and former minister of Safety and Security for the Western Cape,
listens to Tokyo Sexwale's speech honoring Makana FA.

Tokyo Sexwale listens to a speech by the general director of Robben Island.

PUBLIC WORKERS STRIKE

On June 1 2007, about 700 000 public workers across South Africa embarked on a nationwide strike, demanding 12 % more pay. Government does not want to go further then 6,5%. To increase the pressure on the authorities and to raise their voices, thousands of public workers joined marches across the country on June 13, 2007. These pictures were taken in Cape Town, where over 3 000 of them met at the gates of Parliament. Non-violence, chanting, and posters and pamphlets against Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi dominated the March.