As Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated for the 10th year, thousands of South Africans will be heading out to spend their 67 minutes in commemoration of the late former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
Mandela Day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, four years before South Africa’s first democratically elected president died at the age of 95.
The concept to celebrate his birthday by doing an act of kindness was first introduced in 2009 by former president Jacob Zuma.
2019 marks 10 years since the campaign began.
It’s one day of the year where people are asked to spend 67 minutes of their time performing selfless acts for the less fortunate.
The idea behind the concept was to get the public involved in charitable activities.
This years celebration will see President Cyril Ramaphosa will kick-start the day by visiting RX Radio, the Red Cross Children’s Hospital radio station that is staffed by children at the hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town.
Meanwhile, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, together with the City of Ekurhuleni, will be supporting four local charities that represent its focus areas – shelter, early childhood development, active citizenship, as well as food and nutrition.
There will also be a main hub activation at the Germiston civic centre for a press briefing and a live broadcast panel discussion with CNBC Africa.
The day will include an event honouring senior citizens and tracking Madiba’s footprints in the City of Ekurhuleni. Among the guests expected at the event are Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
©News24, EWN
