14 Jul 2016
Every year on 18 July, South Africa and the international community honour former president and international icon, the late Nelson Mandela through Nelson Mandela International Day. This is in recognition of his values, legacy of humanitarian acts, voluntary initiatives, culture of peace and freedom, henceforth, the declaration of 18 July to be observed as “Nelson Mandela Day” by the UN General Assembly in November 2009.
This annual international day of humanitarian action is in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy, which serves the purpose of being a catalyst for each and every person to change the world through voluntary community work. This year’s Mandela Month is celebrated under theme, “Take Action - Inspire Change - Make Every Day a Mandela Day”. People everywhere are encouraged to give 67 minutes of their time to do good for others under the sub-themes Food and Security, Education and Literacy, Shelter and infrastructure, Volunteerism and Creating a Caring Society.
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa will re-open the newly refurbished Nelson Mandela Museum (Bhunga Building) on the 18 July 2016 at 10:00. Located in Mthatha District, the Nelson Mandela Bhunga Building has undergone major revamping and the re-opening of the museum is expected to stimulate local heritage tourism. The Minister of Public Works will hand-over the Bhunga Museum Building to the Minister of Arts and culture as it forms part of national heritage project of the Department of Arts and Culture.
The re-opening will be followed by a colloquium themed, “South Africa of Nelson Mandela’s Dream – Social Cohesion and Nation Building” where Minister Mthethwa will be a respondent, the speakers include, Mr Similo Grootboom, Dr Qewbani Ogunleyo, Father Alan Michael Lapsley, Professor Moses Nkondo, Dr Noel Solani, Ms Nozuko Yokwana and will be Chaired by Mr Vuyani Jarana. The colloquium will take place in Nelson Mandela Museum at 15h00. These activities form part of re-launching the new chapter of Nelson Mandela legacy and the new vision of the Nelson Mandela Museum.
Minister Mthethwa will also donate his 67 minutes at Khanyisa Children’s Home and Zingisa Rehabilitation & Home Care Centre, an old age home and disabled patients in Mthatha on 17 July 2016 at 09:00.
The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi will launch the National Identity (Passport of Patriotism) Braille Booklet on Tuesday, 19 July 2016 at Filadelfia Special School for the visual and hearing impaired including other disabilities in Soshanguve, Pretoria. As a companion for national identity campaign that promotes national identity in schools, the Deputy Minister partnered with Lesego Community Foundation to support this exciting pilot project with an amount of R300 000 to develop national symbols booklet in braille. The Foundation has developed the braille material targeting 10 schools in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape. The Deputy Minister will also announce the participation of Rhulani Baloyi, a renowned visual-impaired journalist and television presenter who has volunteered to be the ambassador for the National Identity Braille Booklet Campaign.
Other events include the Flag hoisting ceremony as part of promoting the national identity campaign in schools at A.H. Barnard Primary School in Beaufort West on Wednesday, 20 July 2016 at 07:00 in Western Cape, followed by the Crafters Forum imbizo at 12:00.
The Deputy Minister will also on Thursday, 21 July 2016 donate her 67 minutes as part of Mandela Day at Springfield Special School for children with mild-intellectual disability at Kookfontein, Redan in the Vaal, Gauteng
Government calls all sectors, the community and the world to contribute 67 minutes to help those in need, “Take Action - Inspire Change - Make Every Day a Mandela Day”.
For more information, please contact Ms Lisa Combrinck, the Spokesperson to the Minister at 082 821 4886 /Deputy Minister’s Spokesperson, Peter Mbelengwa at 082 611 8197