SA knitters prepare to unveil Mandela blanket large enough to be seen from space

23 April 2018 - 09:24 By Timeslive
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All blankets will be distributed to communities in need‚ throughout South Africa‚ after the event.
All blankets will be distributed to communities in need‚ throughout South Africa‚ after the event.
Image: 123RF/miss_j

South Africans voluntarily lending their hands through crochet and knitting for the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day project are on the cusp of revealing their 7‚000 square metre portrait‚ big enough to be seen from space‚ at the Zonderwater Maximum Correctional Centre in Cullinan‚ Gauteng.

The laying out‚ and sewing together‚ of the Madiba portrait blanket will take about two days‚ ready to be unveiled on Tuesday April 24.

All blankets will be distributed to communities in need‚ throughout South Africa‚ after the event.

Correctional Services has partnered with Carolyn Steyn's project.

The department said in a statement the initiative offered value to inmates: "Crocheting does not only give inmates a sense of pride‚ but also has therapeutic value for offenders with significantly large psychological‚ and social‚ benefits which can improve their wellbeing and quality of life. It also offers them a great sense of purpose to give back to communities they harmed."

A 27km scarf will also be rolled out at the Mandela Capture Site in KwaZulu-Natal on July 29. 

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