Every year on the 18th July, South Africans and the international community honour Madiba and embrace his values and legacy through humanitarian acts and voluntary initiatives that acknowledge his determined quest to change the world for the better.nike

Mandela was politically active for 67 years and on Mandela Day, people all over the world – in the workplace, at home and in schools –  are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of their time doing something useful and good to help others.

The 2014 Mandela Day celebration has great significance as we honour the international icon following his recent passing and as the country celebrates 20 Years of Freedom, which he and many others struggled to attain. This year we also reaffirm that South Africa in indeed a better place to live in than it was before 1994.

This day was inspired by a call that Madiba made that the next generation should take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said, "It is in your hands now."

Hence, if the legacy of Mandela’s life and work is to be dynamic and continue to have effect, it must be "owned" by current and future generations. It must be accessible to everyone, and applied in constantly changing contexts of time and place.

The President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma, in his State of the Nation Address (June 2014), announced that Mandela Day would be celebrated by working to clean up the South Africa. The theme for this year is, “Take action, inspire change and make everyday a Mandela day.”

The Northern Cape Provincial Government has heeded the call and for this reason the Premier, Ms Sylvia Lucas, and the entire Provincial Government will be embarking on activities which include cleaning activities, spending time with the elderly, planting gardens and handing out much-needed supplies across the length and breadth of the Province in order to uplift the plight of those most needy. Through these efforts we hope to touch the lives of our people in a meaningful manner.

Government calls on everyone to join hands as directed by the theme of the current term of government, Together We Move South Africa Forward, to lend a hand and play their part in building a cleaner South Africa.

Extra notes:

Ms Sylvia Lucas will be in the Upington area handing out appliances and mattresses to the needy. She will also be interacting with young girls from the farming community of Wegdraai to hand out toiletry packs to them and serving soup to the broader community. Her day will also include an engagement with the elderly, serving lunch to them and handing out blankets

MEC John Block will be in Stilwater to deliver beds and bedding to two elderly ladies and will be handing over a new structure to a family with a dilapidated structure in De Beershoogte and also assisting with painting some houses in Mataleng.

MEC Bartlett will be in De Aar handing out blankets, tea and soup to the frail and elderly. MEC Shushu will be establishing food gardens in Pampierstad. MEC Sokatsha

MEC Botes will be cleaning and painting a house of and elderly woman in Ritchie and in Kimberley he will be handing over a house to a needy elderly woman who has never received a house. MEC Chotelo in conjunction with the local Municipality will be erecting a fence at a disability centre in Magojaneng village in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

MEC Cjiekella-Lecholo will be handing educational to Early Childhood Development Centres in Kimberley. MEC Rooi will be cleaning Home Emmanuel in Steinkopf and conducting structural repairs to two houses. MEC Jack will be cleaning and establishing a vegetable garden at Truly blessed day care centre in partnership with Maphalane disabled children trust.

MEC Mothlaping will be in Penryn handing out blankets and hampers to the much needy. He will also in conjunction with Kalagadi Manganese Mine issuing food hampers and cleaning the environment.

As part of the activities the Premier and MECs will also be having Nelson Mandela Memorial lectures.

For further information, regarding Mandela Day activities please feel free to contact this office or visit www.northern-cape.gov.za for the comprehensive programme.

Released by Communications Directorate, Office of the Premier Northern Cape

Contact persons:

Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams,
083 447 6586