From a Sowetan skipping marathon and a sandwich fest in Norwood Park to an auction at Childline in Parktown, Joburg residents on Friday braved the icy winter weather in celebration of Saturday’s Nelson Mandela International Day.
On the eve of what would have been her late husband’s 97th birthday, former first lady Graça Machel kicked off the Mandela Day campaign by working alongside Stop Hunger Now, where she prepared packed meals for the less fortunate.
Machel spoke about the initiative on the Stop Hunger Now website, saying her support for and patronage of the project was to ensure children did not suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition.
She said the meal packaging event also gave recognition to the efforts of her late husband.
Machel added there could be no greater joy than knowing that each year efforts by Stop Hunger Now continued to nurture and feed hungry children while ensuring they had access to education.
By Friday night 1 739 600 meals had already been packed. The target was one million packs.
The Premium Soccer League scored big by opening a playground for children at the Arekopaneng Centre in Orange Farm, while the Johannesburg Roads Agency planted new trees at the Thuthukani Community Centre in Ivory Park.
Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Mankoane-Mashabane, and others from the diplomatic community, visited the Good Hope Community Organisation and the Ya Bana Orphanage in Winterveldt, where they handed out food parcels, cooked for the children and took part in gardening activities.
As the country and the world celebrate Mandela Day, President Jacob Zuma has appealed to all South Africans to dedicate themselves anew to building a united and caring society.
He said the country had to take forward Madiba’s vision of ending poverty, inequality and unemployment in unity and build a more prosperous society in which all, especially the poor and the working class, were assured of a better life.
Neo Mosebo, who alongside auctioneer Joey Burke organised an auction lasting 67 minutes on the rooftop at Childline, said last year they raised R15 000 but the target this year was R67 000.
Sandwiches prepared by Community Active Protection in Norwood amounted to a nutritious 40 000.
In Washington today, the South African embassy will host a “Mandela Day of service” in which volunteers will be encouraged to clean up the streets.
For those not sure what to do on Mandela Day, see www.mandeladay.com
Saturday Star