The City of Cape Town will commemorate Remembrance Day on Sunday, 11 November 2012 with a service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Adderley Street.
Remembrance Day is observed worldwide on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, to commemorate the end of World War I in 1918. Although 25 000 South Africans of all races died in this war, the two minute silence which is observed commemorates all who have died in wars in the cause of peace and freedom.
The Executive Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson, will lead members of the diplomatic and consular corps and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as well as religious leaders and other dignitaries, in laying wreaths. The ceremony starts at 11:00, and members of the public are invited to attend.
The ceremony will take place on the Concourse Level of the Cape Town Civic Centre in the event of bad weather.
The following roads will be closed from 05:00 to 15:00 on 11 November 2012 to accommodate the ceremony:
- Adderley Street, between Strand Street and Hertzog Boulevard, will be closed to traffic
- The two left-hand lanes adjoining the Standard Bank Centre on Hertzog Boulevard, between DF Malan Street and the Heerengracht, will be closed
The City apologises for any inconvenience caused by these road closures.
The City is currently assessing public comments from a heritage assessment after proposing to move the Cenotaph from its Adderley Street location in order to make way for a new MyCiTi bus station.
Among the proposed alternative venues for the Cenotaph are the Grand Parade and the Memorial Garden in the Company Gardens. These venues would make the holding of this important annual ceremony less disruptive to all involved.
