Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

In the African culture, pouring rain is a sign of good luck and when it pours during any traditional ceremony, it means that all will go well.

However, when the rain pelted down today during Freedom Celebrations here in Absa Stadium today it almost caused chaos as the crowd that had braved bad weather clamoured for shelter.

However, this did not dampen the festive spirit that characterised the celebrations in the city as the well-behaved crowd later enjoyed a cocktail of cultural items spiced with political statements.

The atmosphere was festive as the crowd danced to a mixture of Asian, gospel and traditional African music.

The normally still KwaZulu-Natal Finance and Economic Affairs MEC Zweli Mkhize and his Arts and Culture colleague, Narend Singh, also proved to be very capable in comparers.

Freedom songs had to compete with the blaring sound of vuvuzela and Dr Mkhize had to appeal to the crowd to halt their vuvuzelas during the rendering of the National Anthem by the SANDF brass band.

However, the SANDF brass band stole the show, rendering several musical pieces, including the National Anthem to the satisfaction of those in attendance.

There was a deafening noise of appreciation during the fly past and air displays by different divisions of the SADF and a 21-gun salute.

The colourful military ceremony included a march past by the SANDF members and two Oryx helicopter executing a salute fight with National Flags.

After this, various other aircraft flew past as part of the celebrations.

But the real festivities started after the finishing of the formal speeches presented by President Thabo Mbeki, Premier Sbu Ndebele, Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan and eThekwini mayor, Obed Mlaba.

The gospel music queen, Rebecca Malope, Izintombi Zoma and popular diva Thandiswa Mazwai provided the music.

The colourful celebrations certainly left some good memories in the minds of those who attended.