Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) has partnered with Lotus FM to celebrate and mark Bok Friday on September 9 at the Donkin Reserve – in true South African style, with a braai and rugby game.
The Bok Friday celebration will also feature the screening of the opening game of the Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Tonga, starting at 10:30am.
“We are extremely excited about visiting Nelson Mandela Bay. The city welcomed us with enthusiasm in 2006 when we launched Lotus FM there. The love and warmth that the people of Nelson Mandela Bay showed Lotus FM is definitely one of the station’s highlights,” said Pravina Maharaj producer of The Midday Spice show on Lotus FM.
Celebrated Lotus FM presenter Varshan Sookhun of the popular lifestyle show, The Midday Spice, will host his program live from the Donkin Reserve for an audience of Nelson Mandela Bay residents.
Sookhun, 30, has over ten years of professional broadcast experience under his belt, won national acclaim as producer and presenter of the Bollywood Billboard show on Lotus FM. He has hosted and interviewed several prominent Bollywood and South African lifestyle personalities, and has also performed and written Bollywood-themed theatre productions.
Bok Friday will be celebrated with a braai organized by NMBT at the iconic Donkin Reserve in downtown Port Elizabeth. Residents are invited to join the festivities by bringing their braai packs and donning green and gold attire, in celebration of South African rugby. NMBT will provide braai stands and fires.
“This is a true celebration of the South African spirit of Ubuntu. Together with Lotus FM, we are honouring what it means to be South African, basking in the unity of our diversity and showing support for our Springbok World Cup team,” said NMBT marketing manager Titus Chuene.
Bok Friday is part of September’s Tourism Month activities. NMBT recently launched Tourism Month with an initiative calling residents to action – by getting them to tell the tourism organization what they love most about the city.
“We would like to extend a special invitation to the residents of the Friendly City, to come out in big numbers to spend the day with us, celebrating Bok Friday, braaing and interacting with Lotus FM,” Chuene said.
The Bok Friday celebration on the Donkin will feature the screening of the opening game of the Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Tonga, starting at 10:30am. Photograph: Amy Shelver
