Johannesburg - South Africans must uphold Nelson Mandela's legacy of ensuring that all people are provided equal opportunities for a better life, government said on Monday.
“South Africans are urged to take action, inspire change, and make every day a Mandela Day. The 2014 Mandela Month celebration is particularly symbolic as it is the first one since former president Nelson Mandela's passing,” said acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
The former statesman died in December aged 95.
She urged South Africans to embrace the opportunity to celebrate Mandela Month by giving 67 minutes of their time to build a cleaner and better South Africa.
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 18, Mandela's birthday, Nelson Mandela International Day which would be dedicated to his work and the values he lived by.
The day was also dedicated to service of fellow human beings by actively helping to change their circumstances.
“Let us take action in helping to make a difference, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Let us go out in numbers and participate in activities that will improve our schools, charity homes, and other non-profit organisations to further bring about the change that Madiba fought for.”
She said no matter how small the action, the aim was to change the world for the better, just as Mandela did. - Sapa