Alice - Hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers have marked Mandela Day by painting the walls of an impoverished high school in Alice in the Eastern Cape.
The volunteers included university students, high school pupils, lecturers, teachers, government officials and community members as well as the popular hip-hip band Jozi.
They kept spirits up throughout the day by singing "there's no one like Nelson Mandela".
The Jabavu High School at Kwa-Ntselamanzi village was targeted by the volunteers as they wanted to encourage the learners to take pride in their school and school work, said one of the volunteers and a student at the University of Fort Hare, Vuyiseka Mboxela.
"Dr Mandela grew up in the rural areas just like them. Surely they will learn that their journey depends on themselves and their perseverance. You can be a President of tomorrow or Mark Shuttleworth irrespective of your background," she said.
The Nelson Mandela Institute for Rural Development and Education as well as the University of Fort Hare organised the event.
University of Fort Hare registrar Dr Pinkie Mrhwetyana the institution felt that it is important to take part in the initiative because Madiba is an icon who contributed immensely to the country as whole.
Deputy Director for the Institute for Rural Development and Education Brian Ramadiro said: "This is an important day for us. The initiative forms part of our larger programme to paint 25 schools across the province."
He said local community and traditional leaders, had also donated 10 sheep and three cattle. "We will be a having a get together and lunch," he added.
Jabavu High School Deputy Principal Bongeka Peter said they had wanted to paint the school for some time but could not afford it.
"We couldn't paint it because of financial constraints; this school is situated in a poverty-stricken area. We fee very good about what happened today," she added.
After finishing up, the volunteers celebrated with a poetry and song jamboree.
