/ 19 December 2006

Cape Town to honour Taliep Petersen

The City of Cape Town is to bestow one of its highest civic honours on slain composer and entertainer Taliep Petersen.

The city said on Monday that it would honour Petersen with a ”memorial tribute” after a 100-day mourning period.

Details of the tribute would be announced closer to the time of the event.

Petersen, who was murdered at his Athlone home at the weekend, was a ”born and bred Capetonian”.

”He was highly regarded as a bridge builder who promoted unity by transcending the country’s cultural divide,” the city said.

Marketing manager of the city’s Baxter Theatre, Fahiem Stellenboom, said the Baxter, home to numerous Petersen productions, was also planning a tribute.

This would be held after the 40 days of mourning prescribed by the Muslim faith for Petersen’s widow, Najwa. – Sapa