President Jacob Zuma is getting the key to the city next month, and Makana will be spending a quarter of a million rands for the privilege.
President Jacob Zuma is getting the key to the city next month, and Makana will be spending a quarter of a million rands for the privilege.
At a Council meeting on Tuesday, Municipal Manager Ntombi Baart announced that the Presidency had accepted the municipality's invitation and had proposed 14 July as the date for the formal ceremony.
According to Baart's report this week, the amount of R250 000 has been set aside from the 2010/11 budget to cover the cost of the ceremony and hosting the president.
While the Events Committee has been discussing the preliminary programme for the ceremony, council members Nomhle Ngoqo, Thuleka Ngeleza, Mthuthuzeli Matyumza and Pierre Ranchhod, led by the Council Speaker Rachel Madinda, will help finalise the logistical arrangements for the ceremony.
Former Makana Executive Mayor, Vumile Lwana's proposal to award the Freedom of Makana to Zuma was tabled at a Special Council meeting in October. In his motivation, Lwana described Zuma as having displayed outstanding leadership and stewardship by committing his life to the freedom of his people.
He continued to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of people, Lwana said. He cited Zuma's imprisonment on Robben Island, his continued quest for liberation in exile, and his return to serve in various capacities in post-1994 governments until he became President in 2009.
"The President has demonstrated outstanding leadership during the hosting of a successful 2010 World Cup and I submit that his commendable contribution receives recognition from Council," Lwana submitted. The report explains that the Freedom of the City – also known as the Key to the City – award is bestowed on local or foreign citizens "for outstanding performance in any chosen field; contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of other people, local or abroad; and outstanding leadership and stewardship".
Usually, an ornamental key is presented to the recipient, reflecting the tradition's origins in European medieval walled cities whose gates were guarded during the day and locked at night. According to Wikipedia, the key symbolises the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, as a trusted friend of city residents.
There are two distinct types of Freedom of the City award. Military organisations may be granted the privilege of marching into the city. Traditionally this could be "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed" (although modern practice is obviously different).
In contemporary society, the civic version is awarded by the local government in many towns and cities on those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or to those the city wishes to honour.
