Coordinates: 28°06'20.50" S 30°32'38.07" E Alt: 1159m
Transcription of the notice: (see photographs)
RECONCILIATION BRIDGE
SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST NON-RACIAL, NON-SEXIST AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WAS
TASKED WITH RESPONSIBILITY OF PROMOTING RECONCILIATION, NATION BUILDING AND
SOCIAL COHESION. THIS IS INTENDED TO HEAL THE DIVISIONS OF THE PAST AND ESTABLISH
A SOCIETY BASED ON DEMOCRATIC VALUES, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
RIGHTS AS OUTLINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. ONE WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE
SYMBOLICALLY WAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICACE OF 16 DECEMBER BOTH
AFRIKANER AND LIBERATION STRUGGLE TRADITIONS AND TO RENAME THE DAY AS THE
DAY OF RECONCILIATION. ON 16 DECEMBER 1996, THE DAY OF RECONCILIATION WAS
CELEBRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN SOUTH AFRICA
IN FEBRUARY 2013, THE RECONCILIATION BRIDGE WAS CONSTRUCTED TO SYMBOLISE THE
REMOVAL OF RACIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS BY CONNECTING TWO INSTITUTIONS BUILT
ON ONE BATTLE FIELD, NARATING THE SAME STORY (OF THE BATTLE OF NCOME / "BLOOD
RIVER") FROM TWO DIFERENT PERSPECTIVES. THE BRIDGE MOVES BEYOND LINKING
THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS TO CONNECT AND UNITE CITIZENS THROUGH SHARED HISTORY,
HERITAGE, AND VALUES TOWARDS UNITY IN DIVERSITY AND NATION BUILDING. THE BRIDGE
IS THE SYMBOL OF RECONCILIATION AND BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
