Johannesburg - South African media personalities have added their voices where it matters most. As the country starts to recover from the week-long looting and unrest, celebrities, including actors and actresses from Muvhango, singer Nandi Madida and many others, took to the streets to help with relief efforts.
Madida worked with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) to help feed 200 people who have been displaced due to the violence last week.
In a post she shared on her social media page, Madida said there were many issues in the country that needed urgent attention and solutions.
“We can achieve much more once we have rectified the issues at hand and have our leaders actually prioritise the country and its citizens.”
Mandela Day acted as a call to action for many others including the actors and actresses of Muvhango.
The cast launched a campaign called #ReviveMzansi, spearheaded by actor Dingaan Khumalo, who plays James Motsamai in the show.
The campaign is aimed at mobilising celebrities and fans to help in the clean up of the places severely damaged in the looting and torching rampage in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
"On behalf of the Muvhango family, l urge all South Africans, celebrities and friends to join us in the ReviveMzansi campaign as part of the 67 Minutes for Mandela Day drive. We ask everyone and artists from different genres to join us in spending 67 minutes to help us clean the country in the wake of the civil disorder we have been witnessing,” Khumalo said.
He added that the campaign was an easy way for people to make a difference in their communities while enjoying the outdoors.
“We have to step up and lead by example,” he said.
Fellow actor and co-star Macdonald Ndou, who plays the role of KK in the soapie, said the campaign was important because the country was going through so much.
“We have also to consider the pandemic in this. This is an important time for us all to get together to make sure that we show our people and everyone that we need to build our country instead of destroying it.”
He added that the campaign was to help everyone come together, including the looters, to help rebuild the country.
Co-star Candy Magidimisa said she wanted to help clean the community because South African citizens had to unite.
“Let us revive our beautiful country during these difficult times. My wish is that public figures and influencers don’t just tweet about these things but rather come out and set examples. The more people see them cleaning up the communities, the more the people will also want to partake,” she said.
Former Miss Earth, Earth Warrior and change agent Catherine Constantinides spent her Mandela Day cooking for 400 people and giving out family hampers in Tladi, Soweto.
“Today has been a morning of packing vehicles and receiving more donations and unbelievable support from perfect strangers and individuals who continue to support us.
“Today we work together rebuilding the fabric of who we are. God bless all those out working in communities today,” she said, adding that it was all made possible by the South African spirit and belief that every single citizen can make a difference.
The Star