South African night to honor Nelson Mandela legacy, Tuesday, Oct. 30

A South African Night will highlight the "Life, Legacy and Values of Nelson Mandela" from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 30, in the Ballroom, under the auspices of the International Correspondents Committee.

The event will feature remarks honoring Mandela, a panel discussion on his legacy followed by a Q and A session and a tasting of South African wines and dishes including biltong, boerewors, sosaties and samosas.

The evening will open with video excerpts from Mandela's appearance at the Club as president of South Africa in 1994, one of two visits to the Club.

South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool will give introductory remarks,followed by Edward Perkins, who was the first black U.S. ambassador to to South Africa from 1986 to 1989.

The panelists will include:
---Charlene Smith, the author of the biography, "Mandela: A Celebration of a Great Life," and her newly published book, "Mandela and America.² Books signed by Ms. Smith will be available for purchase.
-- Phillip Van Niekert, who was a journalist in South Africa for two decades covering the last years of apartheid and the transition to democracy. He worked for the anti-apartheid Weekly Mail and became editor of the paper from 1996 to 2001 after it was transformed into the Mail and Guardian.

Tickets for Club members will be $10 and for non-members $15. Reservations can be made via EventBrite here.