SA Post Office launches Mandela, Gandhi stamp
The stamp was launched at the 10th BRICS summit in Johannesburg
THE South African Post Office (SAPO) on Thursday officially launched a stamp which features illustrations of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
‘The stamp, which was launched at the 10th BRICS summit in Sandton, celebrates the diplomatic ties between South Africa and India.
‘Stamp albums with the stamps of India and South Africa were presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,’ said SAPO.
The Mandela artwork was done by Thea Clemons, and that of of Gandhi by Alan Ainslie.
Clemons of SAPO’S Philatelic Services designed the miniature sheet.
The stamp which is available at major post office branches also features the railway station building in Pietermaritzburg.
In May, 125 years ago while Gandhi was on his way to Pretoria, a white man objected to Gandhi’s presence in a first-class carriage, and he was ordered to move to the van compartment at the end of the train.
Gandhi, who had a first-class ticket, refused, and was thrown off the train in Pietermaritzburg. During the winter night on the station, Gandhi decided to stay on in South Africa and fight the racial discrimination against Indians there.
Out of that struggle emerged his unique version of non-violent resistance. Today, a bronze statue of Gandhi stands in Church Street in Pietermaritzburg’s city centre.
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