“Thank you Tata Madiba for the education”
67 minutes of Mandela Day can never be observed without including the love Nelson Mandela had for children. During his lifetime he had preached about ubuntu, education and showed his soft spot to children of different races in promoting rainbow nation.
It was only befitting that Mandela day was held at Ukuthula Primary School in Mageva, Giyani. The festivities started with planting vegetables garden of the school with avocados, cabbage, spinach amongst others. The planting was done by members of the community, Members of Executive Council (MECs) and learners of Ukuthula. The planted trees and seeds will become beneficial to the feeding school programme as learners will be able to be feed from them at a later stage.
Taking to the stand to address those that came in their numbers in responding to the 67 minutes call in honor of Mandela, MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya on behalf of the provincial government encouraged and challenged everyone to continue with the sprit of ubuntu and working together to ensure that planted trees are monitored to assist in ensuring that they bear fruits.
Three grade 6 learners took to stage to thank Mandela for his contribution to the struggle which resulted in them having a better education that they have today, and an opportunity to choose any career they will want to embark on which is something different before Mandela became the first democratic president.
Mandela in his lifetime wanted to be remembered by making difference in the society by doing the little that one can with whatever they have. MEC for Social Development Dr Dickson Masemola raised up to the standard of Mandela by paying a courtesy visit to Makaringe family that lost a son last month in a car accident which left the family vulnerable as he was the sole provider with his sewing job.
The visit left the family with food hamper of necessities such as toiletries and food to survive for at least the next two months and seven blankets to keep warm during rainy and cold weather days in the spirit of Ubuntu.
By: Emmaculate Cindi