NMBT, Lotus FM celebrate Bok Friday on Donkin
07 October 2011
Lotus FM said they loved the experience of doing outside broadcast on such an iconic location.
“It was a fabulous broadcast – with a wonderful response from the PE listeners and community,” said Pravina Maharaj producer of The Midday Spice show on Lotus FM. “It was a pleasure working with Nelson Mandela bay tourism and we hope to partner again in the near future.”
Celebrated Lotus FM presenter Varshan Sookhun of the popular lifestyle show, The Midday Spice, broadcast his program live from the Donkin Reserve for an audience of Nelson Mandela Bay residents.
He chatted to tourism expert Bradley Levack, who sits on the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism board. Levack outlined why the Donkin Reserve is so important to the city.
“The Donkin is one of our city’s great iconic sites – historically and right now,” said Levack. “The Donkin Reserve and lighthouse and pyramid monument built in memory of the city’s founder. It’s the centre of our CBD – and the lighthouse has been guiding sailors since the 1861. The Stone Pyramid Monument has a touching inscription erected by Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife.
“The Mandela Bay Development Agency has also developed an arts route, called Route 67, in honour of the 67 years Nelson Mandela gave to politics. One of the iconic art works is a statuette of Madiba at the start of a 1994 voting line.
Asked why Nelson Mandela Bay is a great family destination, Levack said: “We are affordable, with lots of amazing things to do that are free like beaches, nature, interesting people. We also have many family orientated tourism products and activities Nelson Mandela Bat is a simple, down-to-earth holiday destination in amazing natural surroundings.”
But, he maintains, there is no better person to ask why one should love Nelson Mandela Bay than a local. “Though Nelson Mandela Bay is a small city it has big heart. Its greatest asset is its people – friendly, fun, honest and down-to-earth. Its name after Madiba epitomises the philosophy of Ubuntu and camaraderie this city has long been known for as The Friendly City.”
He also mentioned three little known facts about the city to all Lotus FM listeners.
- Enoch Sontonga who wrote our national anthem Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika was born and bred in Uitenhage, part of Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Our cricket stadium at St Georges Park was the venue for the very first international cricket and rugby test matches ever played in South Africa
- The original inhabitants of NMB left their linguistic footprint on our city in the form of ancient place names – like Addo is the Khoi word for a poisonous plant that goes in the area – now it is synonymous with the Elephant Park. Kragga Kamma and Coega are other examples.
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