SOUTH AFRICAN STAMP ISSUE: MEDIA RELEASE

world conference against racism

Stamp issue date: 7 August 2001 Artist: Anande Nothling SA GCIS Stamp size: 33 x 24.65 mm Cancellation: Johannesburg

English

Zulu

Swati

Xhosa

Tswana

South Sotho

Norhtern Sotho

Ndebele

Tsonga

Venda

Afrikaans

To promote and commemorate the World Conference Against Racism, the South African Post Office will issue a domestic and international rate stamp, three special commemorative envelopes and a limited-edition postcard on 7 August 2001. The conference will be held at the Durban International Conference Centre from 31 August to 7 September 2001.

This is the third UN World Conference Against Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The first two conferences were held in Geneva in 1978 and 1983, and proposed measures to enable the UN to combat racism. When the third conference was planned for 2001, South Africa was the obvious choice, thanks to its peaceful miraculous transition to democracy and reconciliation.

Commemorative covers The local rate stamp is available in all 11 official languages - English, Zulu, Swati, Xhosa, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Ndebele, Tsonga, Venda and Afrikaans with English as a common denominator.

The stamp sheet carries the theme “Tolerance and Diversity” and contains stamps featuring the World Conference Against Racism logo with the wording in 10 official languages. The international rate stamp only has English on it while the postcard does not have a stamp imprinted at the back.

The stamps will be available from 7 August 2001 at post offices in South Africa. Collectors of commemorative envelopes must note that the three official envelopes will be available only at post offices with philatelic counters. All the products will also be available from Philatelic Services on the first floor, Delheim Building, Tulbagh Park, 1234 Church Street, Pretoria. They will also be available at Stampwise InfoSquare on Church Square in Pretoria and from Philatelic Services’ agents countrywide.

For further information, please contact Suzie Khumalo at (012) 421 8713. You can also visit our website at www.sapo.co.za/philately/index.htm or e-mail sastamps@sapo.co.za.   Alternatively, you can write to us at Private Bag X505, Pretoria 0001, SOUTH AFRICA

- Should you wish to order any of these stamps, please contact our Customer Services Centre at tel +27 12 804 7735 or fax +27 12 804 6745 or download the form below.