THANDI SKADE and KRISTEN VAN SCHIE
DOCTOR Malapela and Kgomotso Mothoa always knew that if they worked hard, they could realise their dreams.
But what they didn’t know is that their determination would one day lead them along the path to meeting royalty.
The pair were among several entrepreneurs specially invited to display their trade and meet Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Soweto yesterday.
The royal couple caused quite a stir as they briefly stopped to greet and shake hands with the small crowd who had gathered to welcome them.
Dressed in a cream dress with grey butterflies, coupled with a matching scarf and cream jacket, the duchess looked stylish and smiled eagerly at the crowd as they ululated. The prince and duchess are on a five-day official visit to South Africa.
It is Charles’s first official visit since 1997 and Camilla’s first visit to the country, and is geared towards trade and conservation.
The square was a hive of activity with performances by the Soweto Gospel Choir, Danny K and the Senaoane Senior Secondary School choir.
The school was selected to greet the royal couple in reward for the work pupils are doing through a sports programme that aims at mobilising and teaching the youth about sport.
“I’ve never seen a prince in real life before so we feel privileged for the opportunity,” said Grade 10 pupil Sifiso Mankune.
The royal couple and their delegation wore red paper poppies on their lapels in honour of Remembrance Day on November 11.
They were taken on a brief tour and given an explanation of The Monument, where the 10 principles of the Freedom Charter are outlined.
Phumlani Miya said the royal couple’s visit to the historic place – where thousands of South Africans of all races gathered in 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter, which proclaimed that South Africa belongs to all who live in it – signified their recognition of fallen liberation struggle heroes.
“Our past is being cherished. The prince coming here means that they recognise and honour our country’s history. Our fallen heroes are being cherished,” she said.
Later, he and Camilla stood side by side with Graça Machel, sifting through some of the most treasured artefacts at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton. These included Mandela’s personal papers; drafts for a sequel to A Long Walk to Freedom; the notebook he kept in prison, carefully recording every letter sent home; high school photos from 1938; and church membership cards from 1929.
“And of course you know what this is,” said the head of the memory programme at the foundation, Verne Harris, pointing to a gold medal set in a blue velvet lining: Mandela’s Nobel Peace Prize medal.
And then the couple were back in their vehicle and off to their next appointment.
“Next time we must have tea, you need to give us more time,” beamed Graça. “Always so rushed.”