Nomatemba Tambo, the South African Ambassador residing in Rome, will be hosting 20th year celebrations of South Africa’s freedom and democracy in Malta from Friday to next Sunday.
Over the past 20 years, South Africa has abandoned its shameful past and steadily moved towards building a new culture based on respect of human rights and dignity. In 1994, South Africa cast aside centuries of discrimination and oppression to form a new society built on the foundation of freedom and democracy. This marked the end of apartheid rule and an introduction of a new constitutional order, wherein all South Africans work towards a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.
The ambassador will be hosting a South Africa National Day gala dinner on Friday. South African performer Thandy Ndlazi has flown to Malta especially for the celebrations.
Ndlazi started her music career at age of 18 as a back-up vocalist for South African musicians. She has performed for various embassies in Rome for different occasions, including and not limited to national days, Africa Day and the Fifa World Cup. She entertained thousands of fans at Fifa Fan Fest 2010 in Rome’s Villa Borghese by singing traditional South African songs.
A master chef class is planned for Saturday. Two South African celebrity chefs will be touring Malta and Gozo, cooking with local chefs at different locations. A film crew from South Africa will film all the events, including the master cooking sessions. The Malta footage will be featured on a 30-minute programme and shown on South African TV.
Celebrity chef Jade Sullaphen from Durban in Kwa-Zulu has made his name through his work in the hotel industry and cooked for international heads of state. He has represented South Africa as a cooking ambassador in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Brazil, and also participated in TV cooking programmes like Ready Steady Cook and Chopped South Africa.
Master chef Vusumuzi ‘Vusi’ Ndlovu, 23, who won the title of Gauteng Junior Chef last April, will compete in the Concours International des Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs in September.
Jeremy Maggs, who will host the programme, will fly to Malta to join the TV crew. Mr Maggs is one of South Africa’s most trusted journalists and a senior anchor on South Africa’s first 24-hour television e-News Channel and co-hosts its flagship programme News Night.
The celebrations will close next Sunday with a braai, a traditional South African barbecue event, with food specially selected and created by the two South African chefs in collaboration with master chefs from the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana.
The chefs will be preparing on-the-spot food using typical South African ingredients, rubs and spices. As an accompaniment, a selection of South African wines will be served and a 20th-anniversary wine glass will be given to all guests.
Emphasising the South African culture, there will be live music by Ndlazi and her six-piece band. The braai will be held on the bastion terrace at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. It is open to the public but admission tickets are required.
Those interested to attend these events to experience and taste South Africa may call 2123 2157 or e-mail saconsulate@mbl.com.mt.