Various other supporting activities have been planned as part of the celebrations and these activities include the following:

Media Launch – 08 February 2017
N.B: The venue and other related arrangements will be communicated in due course.

Arrival of Mechanized Columns - 14 February 2017
A convoy of the various types of military vehicles and support elements will arrive in Durban in preparation for the main events and other supporting activities. The convoy will use N3 highway from Pietermaritzburg and drive through the City Centre.

Fan Park grand opening - 16 Feb 2017
(Durban Old Drive Inn @ corner Sandile Thusi & Sylvester Ntuli Streets)
The Fan Park is open to public until 21 Feb 2017 and will provide live-link to view adjacent events on television big screens. Opening daily from 09:00 - 18:00.

Live Capability Demonstration - 18 Feb 17
(The New Beach - next to Addington Hospital).
Open to public. The demonstration will commence at 14:00 and last for 1 hour.

Armed Forces Day Gala Music Concert - 18 February 2017  at Durban City Hall (Dr Prixley KaSeme Street or old West Street).
The public is advised to get their free admission tickets at Durban City Hall Information Counter as well as Lords Army Military Unit in City Centre. Gates open at 17:00 and the event starts at 18:30.

CISM Fun Walk / Run - 19 February 2017 (Beach Front)
The event will start at Blue Lagoon at 06:00 and end at uShaka Marine. The event is open to the public who wish to participate.

Night Shooting Capability - 20 February 2017  (Blue Lagoon (Durban North).
The demonstration will commence at 19:00 and last for up to 45 minutes. It is open to the public, guests.  Attending members of the public to be seated by 18:30

Armed Forces Day Parade - 21 February 2017 (M4 road - podium at the back-end of Moses Mabida Stadium).
Members of the public are invited. The parade will commence at 10:00.

Grand Closure - Capability Demonstration - 21 February 2017 at Blue Lagoon (Durban North) directly after the parade
The public is allowed to come and view the demonstration. Those who can't make it to the parade and/or capability demo will have an opportunity to view all proceedings at the Fan Park through big screens projection (live-feed).

Like so many other military disasters, the story of the SS Mendi is a story of supreme courage in the face of death and valour shown between brothers toward each other in dire circumstances. The courage displayed by these men has remained a legend in South African military history.

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to submit their names to Colonel Ronald Maseko for accreditation purposes in order to gain access to cover the AFD 2017 celebrations activities. The names should include the following details:

• Full Name and Surname
• Country of Origin
• Identification Number
• Type of Identification (ID / Passport /)
• Media House (employer)
• Area of Residence and Employment (Durban / Pretoria etc)
• Specify occupation title (e.g. Journalist / Photographer / Editor etc)
• Contact Detail (Office and Mobile numbers)

                                                                                                                                        These details should reach Colonel Ronald Maseko no later than Friday, 27 January 2017. Accreditation centres will be opened from Thursday, 02 February 2017 until 21 February 2017 in Durban (Natal Mounted Rifles) and Pretoria (Air Force Base Waterkloof). Please note that no member of the media will be assisted at these centres without prior vetting of the required information as specified herein above.


Enquiries:     Mr Siphiwe Dlamini on 083 645 4294 or siphiwe.dlamini@dod.mil.za

Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi on 082 380 0724 or mmgobozi@yahoo.com

Colonel Ronald Maseko on 083 410 1665 or sandfmedialiaison@gmail.com