Johannesburg – Sport and Recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has used his 67 minutes for Mandela Day to urge drug dealers distributing drugs to young people in Eldorado Park to stop and rather advance the values of Madiba.
Madiba is celebrating his 95th birthday today, 18 July. The day has been declared Mandela Day.
“We are saying to our youth, you need to give up using drugs. To the drug dealers, we are saying in the name of Mandela advance his core values of common good for our nation and stop supplying drugs to our future generations,” he said.
Mbalula was speaking at an event to mark Mandela Day in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg.
He gave 67 minutes of his time beautifying the Andries Meyer Old Age Home by planting trees and painting a wall.
Earlier this year, Dereleen James, a mother from the area wrote an emotional letter pleading to President Jacob Zuma to assist in tackling the escalating drug problem in the area. Since then there has been a major crack down on drugs by the police and Gauteng Provincial Government.
According to Mbalula, Mandela Day inculcates the values of self-sacrifice, giving and caring which is reflective of the character of Madiba, who is still being treated for a recurring lung infection at the Medi-clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.
“As a nation we need to walk away from drugs. As government we are happy that the law enforcement agencies are intensifying their work,” he said.
The minister said sports can be used as a means to keep children away from alcohol and drug abuse.
His message was echoed by his Deputy Minister, Gert Oosthuizen, who said it was appropriate to celebrate Mandela Day in the township so they could encourage the community to fully participate in various sporting codes.
“We also strongly believe that through sports, we can defeat the scourge of drugs abuse in the area.”
The department donated sporting equipment to the Old Age Home as part of government’s Active Ageing programme as well as to ten local schools.
South African Football Association (Safa) President, Kirsten Nematandani, said Mandela Day was an important day because it inculcated the spirit of selflessness, social cohesion and nation building.
“This is a legacy that we must take forward during our live times in order to continue building a prosperous South Africa. No one should be a spectator as part of nation building. We all have a role to play through this initiative to build our nation.”
The Old Age Home project manager, Sam Pullen, said the visit by the minister had revived hope and spread happiness in all 85 senior citizens at the centre.
“The centre is neat and beautiful and we now have a vegetable garden. Mandela did so many things for us as a nation, so now it is time for us to remember his legacy by always doing something good to someone in our society.”
Supersport United player, Sameehg Doutie said he wanted to participate in the initiative to make a difference to the senior citizens of Eldorado Park by painting and planting trees in honour of Madiba.
“Young people must understand that Mandela did wonders for our country, so they must refrain from alcohol and drug abuse and just focus on their studies.”
His teammate and Zambian international defender, Davies Nkausu said: “The fact that Madiba is celebrating 95th birthday should send a clear message to young people that if they stay away from drugs and remain principled as they pursue their studies, they too can live long.”
Former Bafana Bafana and Supersport veteran striker Sibusiso Zuma wished Madiba a speedy recovery and happy birthday.
“We just hope that he will be discharged from the hospital and go home very soon. This is the man who brought us together as a country and laid a very solid foundation in order for all of us to continue building a non-racial and democratic South Africa.
“Young people should wake up and realise drug abuse and criminal activities do not pay, so they need to focus on their studies.”
Local residents Judith Senatle, who was also volunteering to clean the old age home, said: “As we proudly make the difference to the lives of our senior citizens, we wish Madiba a speedy recovery.”
Seventeen year old Grade 10 learner at Willow Crescent Secondary School, Bradley Jacobus, said: “I value the contribution of Mandela to liberate this country, so as a young South African, it pains me to see my peers destroying their future through drugs, instead of upholding the core values of Madiba.”
On Mandela Day South Africans and people all over the world are encouraged to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to do community work in celebration of the values and principles that Madiba fought and stood for.
The 67 minutes symbolizes Madiba's years of selfless service to the people of South Africa and the world in the course of his extraordinary life. Mandela spent 67 years of life working to build a better life for all.
In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared Mandela's birthday, 18 July as the annual Nelson Mandela Day. - SAnews.gov.za
