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First Indians in SA are remembered

THE celebrations marking the arrival of indentured Indian labourers in KwaZulu-Natal 150 years ago are reaching fever pitch.

Civil society structures are now calling on South Africans to join hands at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium's People's Park on Saturday.

The national celebration, funded by the KwaZulu-Natal government, is the biggest of all the celebrations that started in October.

The opening ceremony is being choreographed by sought-after artist Satchu Anamalay.

"It is a symbolic re-enactment of indentured labourers working on sugar cane fields," said 1860 Commemoration Council chairperson Seelan Achary. Nearly 90 buses have been hired to transport people to the stadium to ensure that a range of civil society, political and religious representatives get to the stadium on time. The event is being billed as a national celebration of unity.

The event is being hosted by Premier Zweli Mkhize in conjunction with the 1860 Organising Committee that consists of the 1860 Legacy Foundation and the 1860 Commemoration Council.

The event will kick off with a cultural heritage parade through the streets of Durban.

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