(1 Jan 1996) English/Nat
South African President Nelson Mandela opened Cape Town's annual Coon carnival Monday vowing to press ahead with the controversial Truth Commission into Apartheid era crimes.
The unique festival by the Malay and mixed race communities is a celebration of the emancipation of Cape slaves in 1838.
Dressed in a colourful minstrel outfit, Mandela was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of several thousand people at the city's Green Point Stadium.
Each January 1, the citizens of Cape Town come out in brilliant colour to celebrate the beginning of the New Year while remembering the past.
As part of the New Year festivities, the carnival relives the moment in 1838 when Cape slaves gained their freedom.
It is the culmination of weeks of preparations - a radiant parade of colour and music in traditional style under the Cape sun.
The pay off - a presidential seal of approval. The crowds, as well as the minstrels taking part, were enthusiastic about this year's guest of honour.
SOUNDBITE: "It will be a pleasure being in the presence of the President of our country"
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
SOUNDBITE: "I am happy here, we are here for our President and this country - and the best band."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop
Mandela was given a warm welcome. The crowds greeted him with cheers and a special musical tribute.
Mandela was followed on a tour around the stadium by popular minstrel troops such as the Good Hope Entertainers, the Athlone Beach Boys, the Hanover Park Pennsylvanians and the Atlantis Super Stars.
The President used this festival of liberation to talk about a politically sensitive topic - the impending Truth Commission.
SOUNDBITE: "We have established a human rights commission composed of the most prominent citizens in the country. Precisely to protect the rights of each and every South African. We have established the Truth Commission which is going to involve, investigate all the crimes of the past."
SUPER CAPTION: Nelson Mandela, South African President
The annual festival - affectionately known locally as the "Coon" Carnival - is one of the highlights of the Cape Town calendar.
It involves most of the city's Malay and mixed race communities in three days of parades, concerts and street parties.
It will run until Wednesday.
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