Deputy President Paul Mashatile, accompanied by the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute, will on Tuesday lead the Nelson Mandela International Day activities in Soweto.
Mandela Day is an annual global celebration, which takes place on 18 July, to honour the life and legacy of the late liberation struggle veteran and international icon, President Nelson Mandela.
This important day also serves as a call to action for individuals, communities and organisations to take time to reflect on Tata’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities.
This year’s Mandela Day will be observed under the theme: ‘Climate, Food and Solidarity’ - urging all to action in response to the impact of climate change, addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality.
In this regard, the Deputy President and his delegation will participte in planting 12 additional vegetable beds at the Morris Isaacson High School in Jabavu, Soweto, with the aim of encouraging the learners to start and maintain vegetable gardens at their schools and homes.
This is also part of the food security initiatives aimed at contributing to the overall National School Nutrition Programme.
While in Soweto, Mashatile, together with representatives of the National Youth Development Agency, Clinic Health Group and the Gauteng Provincial Government, will hand over gifts to learners at both Morris Isaacson and Matseke High Schools.
The Deputy President will then visit and hand over gifts to the elderly at the Soweto Home for the Aged which accommodates needy and destitute elderly people with full boarding and lodging facilities, frail care and other services.
As part of honouring and paying homage to freedom fighters, the Deputy President will lay wreaths at Tsietsi Mashinini’s statue in Jabavu, the Nelson Mandela House in Vilakazi Street, as well as the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Orlando West.
The Deputy President will be supported by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi; Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Parks Tau; Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale Tlabela; Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Morakane Mosupyoe; Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane; Gauteng MEC for Social Development Mbali Hlophe and senior government officials. – SAnews.gov.za
