Pretoria – Former President Nelson Mandela, who will be celebrating his 93rd birthday in a few days, has been described as a living heritage by the National Heritage Council of South Africa.
“The National Heritage Council of South Africa wishes … Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela … a happy birthday. We consider Tata as South Africa’s living heritage that will remain the memory of the people of this world”, NHC CEO Sonwabile Mancotywa said.
The elderly statesman will celebrate his birthday on Monday. The world will celebrate the third Mandela Day, where each individual is encouraged to exercise their power to transform the world.
“He stood for the values of Ubuntu that the NHC encourages the nation to uphold: respect, love, honesty, compassion, forgiveness, humility and unity,” said Mancotywa.
In celebrating Mandela Day, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will be in Qhudeni at Chief Sithole village in KwaZulu-Natal, where he will hand-over computers to Kufanelesibonge and Qhobo secondary schools.
DTI Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe will visit the community of Mohlakeng in Randfontein, where she will spend the day with residents of the Mohlakeng Old Age Home. She will assist with the painting of the premises.
Deputy Minister Thandi Tobias-Pokolo will be in Christiana in the North West, where she will help with the renovation of Retataise Day Care Centre. She will also donate blankets to the poor.
“Citizens are encouraged to devote 67 minutes to community service and I’m hoping that the small contribution of the department’s ministers and staff will not only give hope and inspiration to the communities we will be visiting, but will also change their live for the better,” said Davies.
The 67 minutes symbolise Mandela’s 67 years of selfless service to the people of South Africa and the world in the course of his extraordinary life.
On July 18, citizens of the world, and in particular all South Africans, are encouraged to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to do community work in celebration of the values and principles that South Africa’s first democratic President stood for. – BuaNews
