Pretoria – Learners at Dr Mathole Motshekga Primary School, in Tembisa, near Midrand, today woke up to a fully made-over school, with fresh paint and clean classrooms.
A group of people from Facebook Africa painted the school as part of activities planned to celebrate former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
Madiba’s birthday, also known as Nelson Mandela Day, is a global event, officially declared by the UN in November 2009.
On this day, the UN and the Nelson Mandela Foundation call on people across the world to devote 67 minutes of their time to helping others.
Facebook Africa team, led by Dr Mathole Motshekga, whom the school was named after, cleaned and painted the school.
Speaking to SAnews on Monday, Dr Motshekga, who is the African National Congress' Chief Whip and member of the African National Congress' Department of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, reminded South Africans that Mandela Day should be part of their daily life.
“Mandela Day should mean selflessness, sacrifice, community service and commitment to building a socially cohesive society in which the value of every citizen is measured by humanity,” he said.
Dr Motshekga said it is imperative for people to show Ubuntu in their daily lives.
This year’s Mandela Day was launched by Graça Machel, wife of the late statesman and international icon at the Dr Mathole Motshekga Primary School on Wednesday, 8 June 2016.
On Mandela Day, among other things, South Africans and international supporters are called on to help establish a garden, read to children, paint schools and support recycling initiatives run by the youth.
Facebook Africa team leader Nunu Ntshingila told SAnews they wanted to do something on this day, especially in the line of education.
According to Ntshingila, they bought paint and other things required for painting.
This month is exactly one year since Facebook Africa office was launched in South Africa.
A learner at Dr Mathole Motshekga Primary School, Siphosethu Khumalo, 12, who is in Grade 5, told SAnews that he was happy that Mandela’s birthday was being celebrated at their school.
“Our school today looks nice,” he said.
Asked if he knows what Mandela Day means, Khumalo said: “It is Mandela’s birthday”.
Throughout the country, ministers, politicians, celebrities and community members are devoting 67 minutes helping or serving others.
According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, this year Mandela Day’s focus will be on education and literacy, food security, shelter and the environment.
The Foundation has urged South Africans and international supporters to help establish food gardens, read to children, paint schools and support recycling initiatives run by young people. – SAnews.gov.za
