Cape Town – South Africans should look to set aside 67 minutes of each day to contribute meaningfully if they are to match the contribution made by former president Nelson Mandela to the country and the world, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille said today.
Speaking to SAnews at the Civic Centre where public servants and members of the Stormers rugby team were busy packing food and blankets into 10 000 hampers for distribution to needy Capetonians, De Lille said she had called upon each of the city’s 26 000 employees to bring one food item.
The parcels will be handed over to Foodbank South Africa, which will distribute to crèches and early childhood development centres.
A number of schools also visited the City Centre to view the city’s year-long Nelson Mandela Legacy Exhibition, which includes numerous photos and quotations from the former president, and to sing happy birthday to him.
“I’ve walked around with them in the display and said to them that they must write down all those wise words spoken by Tata Madiba, because they must learn his values, his principles and try to live it, because he’s the best teacher who can teach the whole nation,” said De Lille.
Taking a break from sorting food into hampers, Stormers player Jean de Villiers said the country is privileged and honoured to have someone like Madiba.
“The 67 minutes that we as South Africans (give), every individual can give back (firstly) to … the country and secondly to Madiba just to say thanks for what you’ve done…”
De Villiers said he wished Madiba all the best and hoped that by everybody doing their bit on Mandela Day that it would make him feel better.
Mandela, who turns 95 today, remains in hospital after having been admitted on 8 June to receive treatment for a recurring lung infection. Doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving. – SAnews.gov.za
