Pretoria - Tourism Deputy Minister Tokozile Xasa on Monday refurbished and furnished the home of 82-year-old Vumile Ndlebende of Fort Jackson, in the Eastern Cape, as part of commemorating Mandela Day.
The department said the Deputy Minister contributed her 67 minutes with the help of community members to help those in need.
“This included painting the house on the inside and outside, fixing the ceiling, providing kitchen flooring over his previous cement floor, a kitchen cupboard and a bedroom cupboard.
“He [Ndlebende] did not have a cupboard and any place to pack his groceries before. They also provided a bed with new bedding,” the department said.
President Jacob Zuma declared 2015 as the Year of the Freedom Charter and Unity in Action as it marks its 60th anniversary. The department saw the deed as a better way to give expression to this milestone through celebrating Mandela Day.
“While these items might seem common place to most of us, it means everything to someone that has nothing.
“This embodied the theme of Mandela Day 2015 ‘Take Action - Inspire Change - Make Every Day a Mandela Day’,” the department said.
It said Ndlebende was overwhelmed with emotion by the gesture of love.
“Mandela Day is not only about doing good - it is about service and it is an opportunity to build upon his lifelong belief that we must live to serve every day, in whatever we do,” the department said. - SAnews.gov.za
