Nelson Mandela International Day – 18 July 2011

The 18th July has become a key date on the South African and International calendar.

Having declared it in 2010 as Nelson Mandela International Day, this day serves to call on the international community to emulate the example of the former President of South Africa. In addition to the date being the birthday of Nelson Mandela it serves as a clarion call for service to your fellow man.

This year’s theme of the Nelson Mandela Day is: Working Together to Build a Caring Society.

Former President Mandela became the epitome of striving for human dignity and prosperity. He dedicated his life to ensuring that not just South Africa, but the world, becomes a place in which every human-being can make a significant contribution.

As a country, South Africans are challenged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time in service of fellow South Africans. The significance of the 67 minutes is in line with the years that President Mandela contributed towards bringing about a just society in South Africa.

The theme for this year is a call for action to all South Africans to collectively work together to build a caring society. In working together it highlights that the contribution of every South African has the ability to ensure that we are able to unite in our pursued to building on the legacy of the former President. This working together means that we have a common purpose and together we are able to overcome the challenges that our country and the world is faced with.

The theme further highlights that in the pursuit of freedom, President Mandela strived for a society that is tolerant and lives in harmony. In every South African availing their service for 67 minutes we should illustrate that indeed as South Africans we are a caring nation. We have the ability to turn situations around and give hope to those that might have given up on hope. In building a caring society we are encouraged to take ownership of our own prosperity and contribute towards changing the situation that other South Africans might find themselves in.

The Northern Cape Provincial Government will take the lead in ensuring that the contribution of former President Nelson Mandela is acknowledged through the participation of various Government Departments and officials. Departments will in line with their line function engage in services that will be beneficial to the community or project that they will target.

We encourage communities to be actively involved in these programmes and to encourage every member within their community to participate. Communities should further develop and engage in their own programmes that will contribute towards changing the conditions within the particular community. It is further important that the celebrations of Nelson Mandela International Day become community centred and driven, with each and every community member making a significant contribution.

Click here to download the detailed Nelson Madela Day programme.