Issued by: Office of the President
An international mega-star will soon be landing on South African shores to pledge his support for the country's blossoming democracy.
Bill Cosby has confirmed that he will be accepting an invitation made to him by President Nelson Mandela to be his special guest at two fund-raising efforts.
The proceeds of the fund-raising will go primarily towards the development of the Robben Island Museum and the Ex-Political Prisoners causes. One of the fund-raising efforts will be held on Robben Island itself with both President Mandela and Bill Cosby in attendance.
Bill Cosby, who has consistently occupied a top ten position for being America's most popular entertainer, has had a long association with the struggle for freedom in South Africa during the long and arduous years of apartheid. In fact during the lengthy run of his popular sit-com series, "The Cosby Show", he deliberately and visibly displayed a South African anti-apartheid poster in the room of his TV son Theo.
Cosby has also been consistently vocal on various other anti-apartheid platforms throughout the years.
This will be Cosby's first visit to South Africa and it will be made all the more auspicious by him coming as the President's special guest.
What makes Cosby's visit all the more poignant is that he is going through a period of severe personal tragedy following the recent mysterious shooting to death of his son. Despite that, he will still honour his pledge to President Mandela to visit.
He will be performing at the two planned functions without receiving any payment.
A M Kathrada CHAIRPERSON OF THE EX-POLITICAL PRISONER'S COMMITTEE
Enquiries: A M Kathrada (021) 45 2225 or 082 5700381