Local talent to perform at a 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day blanket handover

The all-star cast of performers includes Jonathan Roxmouth, Timothy Moloi, Lindiwe Bungane, Tonya Koenderman, Keith Smith, Michael de Pinna, Ferdi Gernandt, Judy Ditchfield, Brenda Sakellarides, Kiruna-Lind Devar, Zandile Mzazi, Helen Desbois, Jacques Lagesse, Michael Themba, Sam Peo, Andre Schwartz, students from the National School of Arts and the Joburg Ballet. Oakfields College will also perform numbers from Forever Plaid, which will be on at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in November. Also on the bill will be a special, surprise guest.

The production is directed by David Bloch, musical direction by Bryan Schimmel and assembled by Chet Diepraam.

This blanket handover aims to motivate more South Africans to get those needles clicking. The entrance fee to the blanket handover is a blanket made with love (150cm x 180cm) or two baby blankets (90cm x 110cm).

“The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day ‘knit-wits’ are knitting away with the aim of producing 9000 handmade blankets for an awareness drive. We aim to make 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day a household name by displaying our woollen wares at the feet of the Nelson Mandela statue at the Union Buildings in April 2015. After we create this sea of colourful blankets around the feet of the Madiba statue, which is bound to cause a global stir and attract even more supporters to the cause, all blankets will be returned to their creators by Airlink for regional distribution to those in need,” says Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

Steyn continues: “It is my hope that our knitathons, blanket handovers, awareness drives and the fact that we recently won Campaign of the Year, will encourage more people to get involved with the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day movement so that more people can be kept warm in winter. Stitch by stitch we will be keeping people around our beautiful country – and around the world – warm this winter and for all the winters to come in the name of our beloved Nelson Mandela.”

To book a seat, phone Johan Vos on 0617 67 67 67 or email [email protected].

For more information, one can visit 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day’s website. Alternatively, one can visit and like 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day’s Facebook page.