The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, and the South African delegation are travelling from New York to South Africa bringing back the remains of Mr Nat Nakasa. He is travelling together with Gladys Maphumulo (Mr Nakasa’s sister) and other members of the Nakasa family as well as a representative of KwaZulu-Natal government. They will arrive at King Shaka International tomorrow.

A special welcome home ceremony will be held at King Shaka International Airport attended by family, political principals, officials and special guests on Tuesday 19 August 2014 at 14h00. The casket with Mr Nakasa’s remains will be draped in national colours at the ceremony.

A media briefing will be held at King Shaka International Airport at 15h30 where the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, the Premier of Kwa Zulu-Natal, Mr. Senzo Mchunu and the Mayor of eThekwini, Cllr. James Nxumalo will speak. They will also announce preparations for the reburial of Mr Nakasa’s remains at Heroes’ Acre in Chesterville, Durban.

Nat Nakasa was a journalist from Chesterville, Durban, who began his work and career as a writer at Ilanga laseNatal in the late 1950s. He subsequently moved to Johannesburg, where he wrote for Golden City Post, Rand Daily Mail and DRUM magazine, covering many of the challenging stories and events of the time.

In 1964 he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship to study in America, but was not issued with a passport. He thus reluctantly went into exile.  He died under mysterious circumstances in New York in 1965 and was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery.

DETAILS OF THE MEDIA BRIEFING ARE AS FOLLOW:

Date                : 19 August 2014

Time               : 15H30

Venue             : King Shaka International Airport, Dube Tradeport, Cargo Terminal,    Durban

PS: Transport for media will leave from the City Hall parking lot at 13H00.

To RSVP contact: Vuyo Ndlovu on 031 311 4838/ vuyo.ndlovu@durban.gov.za or

Madimetja Moleba 072 842 6594/012 441 3083/MadimetjaM@dac.gov.za

Please indicate if you require transport.

For more information contact Mary B Papayya 082 379 4957 or

Mack Lewele 082 450 5076 (Department of Arts and Culture)