World War 1 soldiers commemorated
JOBURG CBD - Central Johannesburg came to a stand still when hundreds of civil servants paraded on Harrison Street on 9 November.
This was part of the annual National Civic Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
The National Remembrance service honours all South Africans who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in all wars and conflicts, including the struggle for democracy.
In support of the overall message “Unification and Nation-Building”, the event honoured military veterans representing all communities in South Africa.
This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the start of World War 1 (1914-1918), where many South African soldiers’ lives were lost. This formed the theme for this year’s service.
The City of Johannesburg recognised the sacrifices of South African soldiers, both black and white, who took part in campaigns across Africa and in Europe during this tragic event.
A total of 245 419 South Africans of all races volunteered for military service during the First World War with 12 452 casualties having suffered during the four years of fighting.
The event opened with a march past the Cenotaph in Harrison Street which featured military veterans’ organisations and military bands, supported by the South African National Defence Force, together with hundreds of civic marchers in the parade.
Reverend Doctor Mongenzi Guma, led an inter-faith religious service before calling upon the mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Parks Tau, to lead the wreath-laying ceremony by laying the first wreath on behalf of the citizens of Johannesburg.
He was followed by various ambassadors and diplomats representing the different countries that also lost soldiers to the war and some senior South African National Defence Force officers, civic dignitaries, a large variety of military veteran organisations, and youth groups.
