Nelson Mandela once said, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” These words became a reality when MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Abraham Vosloo took time to celebrate Mandela Day with senior citizens and handed over blankets, gift packs and dignitary packs in Vredesvellaie, Reimvaasmak and in Pabalello (Upington), to live up to the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ which is characterised by warmth and kindness.

On the 18 of July South Africa and the world celebrates former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday, this gives everyone the opportunity to heed the call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them. This year Mandela day was celebrated under the theme “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

The programme started on 18 July 2022 in Vredesvellaie, Reimvaasmaak and the MEC reflected on the significance of this area, one of the first to have successfully concluded its restitution/Land claim which was officially handed over by the late President, Our struggle Icon, Tata Nelson Mandela.

According to MEC Vosloo “this is a landmark restitution case which will go down in history as one of its kind in that it restored the dignity of both the Damara and Xhosa communities who were displaced by a brutal apartheid regime which was at the forefront of brutal suppression and displaced many communities through the Group Areas Act a host of apartheid legislation of the time”.

One of the senior citizens Ms Martha Bosman, who is a beneficiary of the Reimvasmaak land restitution who was moved from Riemvaasmaak to Qonce by the apartheid regime. “I will never forget what Tata Nelson Mandela did for me and my community, he restored our dignity and we pride ourselves with that, we are happy that you took time to celebrate this day with us” she said.

On the 20^th July 2022, MEC Vosloo made a generous donation of R20 000 to Bopanang one stop Centre in Upington. This centre provides shelter to victims of gender-based violence (GBV). As part of that day’s activities MEC opened a service delivery fair in Pabalello Township at Thembalethu hall and had lunch with the elderly and people living with disabilities and handed over blankets and dignitary packs.

Furthermore, there was a graduation ceremony for sewing and garment manufacturing where MEC handed over industrial sewing equipment to the value of R200 000, sponsored by Department of Economic Development and Tourism, championed by Integrated Economic Development Services (IEDS) programme.

All these projects were to honour this year’s Mandela day theme “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.