What could the world be if every day was a Mandela Day?
Every one of us would make a difference by giving to the needy and less fortunate.
The great man of our time – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – who dedicated 67 years of his life fighting for the right of humanity had a vision of a democratic state.
Only an extraordinary human being is capable of what Mandela did.
It is also a testimony that nothing is impossible with the right attitude.
Through volunteerism, the face of the world can change. It is time to leave the corner, come to the centre of the room and be part of the solution, particularly in the fight against crime.
It is not possible that from so much hurt, a greater and better humanity cannot emerge, if we freely give part of our spare time, to rephrase a statement by Charles de Gaulle.
Community participation continues to play a vital role in the fight against crime.
Programmes and projects led and owned by community members remain the best bet in combating crime. Community mobilisation becomes an important element in encouraging maximum participation.
However, it is important to channel the willingness that people have to act against crime in a manner that builds social cohesion in communities.
The Mandela Day Campaign regenerates the spirit of volunteerism. It is a call for individuals to take responsibility and change the world into a better place, one small step at a time, as Mandela did.
Volunteering entails giving time, energy and skills in aid of a cause without expectation of remuneration. This is the case in the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, where volunteers assist in realising its primary objective – that Gauteng becomes safer and secure.
Our volunteers include community safety patrollers, men as safety promoters, community police forums, promoters, youth desks and at victim empowerment centre staff.
These are men and women giving back to their communities by dedicating their time and skills.
They all have a vision of eradicating crime in our streets.
The men as safety promoters initiative has yielded progressive results; 162 groups were established and 100 more will be set up in this financial year.
These are men who seek to contribute to the reduction of violence against women and children and its impact on men, to promote a violence-free society for vulnerable groups. This will create a society that encourages men to take their rightful place, as protectors.
True patriots possess the qualities of a volunteer and exhibit professionalism, accountability and dedication. They are people-centred in executing allocated tasks without expecting a pay cheque at the end of the month. If all of us adopt the same paradigm and walk the same path as Tata Madiba, the world will be a better place.
Take charge, whether it’s supporting a charity of your choice or serving your community in any way; take part and make that small difference. Together we can each do more and take our country to greater heights. By joining any safety structure in your community you will be contributing in making criminals uncomfortable.
* Faith Mazibuko is the MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng.
Pretoria News