Staff Reporter
JOHANNESBURG – CORPORATE companies, political organisations government departments and individuals, were in full throttle this week in heeding the call by late, former President Nelson Mandela to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to do meaningful and constructive community work.
In line with this year’s theme, which was education and literacy, food security, shelter and the environment, a number of schools and shelters countrywide mostly benefitted from the exercise.
In Tembisa students woke up to a fully made-over school, with fresh paint and clean classrooms thanks to the Facebook Africa team.
Nunu Ntshingila, Head of Facebook Africa, said painting the school was in line with the company’s commitment to improved education standards.
Coincidentally, July marked exactly a year since Facebook expanded to Africa through the launch of its office in Johannesburg.
Elsewhere in the East Rand, Absa, the bank spared 67 minutes in contributing towards education and skills.
Over 600 matriculants from Phumula Gardens, Villa Lisa and Rondebult High Schools were fully prepared for a new term and received career guidance and ‘ReadytoWork’ training from bank executives.
‘ReadytoWork’ is a curriculum launched by Absa and aimed at helping young people builds the skills they need to make the critical transition from education into the world of work.
Banie Claasen, Gauteng South Managing Executive at Absa, said the curriculum would be life-transforming.
“We are proud to be active participants in continuing Madiba’s legacy and passion for education by bridging these students’ entry into the world of work,” says Claasen.
In Johannesburg, National Leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane, answered Mandela’s call by spending 67 minutes at the Othandweni Shelter in Hillbrow.
Othandweni is a haven for unemployed women who struggle with drug addiction, or who have been abused, and are homeless.
Maimane handed over blankets to the shelter and helped pack toiletry bags.
“This is how we keep the Mandela flame burning,” Maimane says.
Deputy Minister of Energy, Thembisile Majola, said Mandela Day should be a reminder to the importance of volunteerism.
She spent the day at the Sizwile School for deaf Children in Dobsonville, Soweto, where she interacted with children and spent time sweeping the school’s premises and tending the school’s vegetable garden. The department has donated solar lamps to the school and will also retrofit all lighting at the school.
Majola encouraged the pupils to study science.
“The fact that they are deaf does not make them less able than any other children to achieve whatever it is that they want to achieve.”
Multinational company, Intertek, also donated toys and garden tools to the school.
St Anne Primary School in Pretoria, where the South African National Parks (SANParks) head office staff, was also the beneficiary of volunteerism.
It was founded in 1945 as a Roman Catholic school, catering for people forcefully removed from surrounding areas.
SANParks handed over a vegetable garden and taught educators and learners of planting skills and recycling techniques.
In November 2009, the United Nations officially declared July 18, Madiba’s birthday, as International Mandela Day. The first was held in 2010.
Graça Machel, wife of the late statesman and international icon, launched this year’s edition at the Dr Mathole Motshekga Primary School in Tembisa.
It was named after the African National Congress stalwart.
More than 500 volunteers, among them Human Settlements Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, gathered in Soweto, in Dube Hostel and Vilakazi Street for a clean-up campaign to commemorate the day.
Mandela lived at a house in the street between 1946 and 1962, which has been turned into a museum, the Nelson Mandela National Museum.
On the day individuals are encouraged to spend 67 minutes of community service in honour of the 67 years Mandela dedicated to the public service fighting for social justice.
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