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The Citizen
19-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
#MandelaDay: [Video] This is how Boksburg jumped in on Mandela Day!
#MandelaDay: [Video] This is how Boksburg jumped in on Mandela Day! Boksburg residents and local organisations embraced the spirit of ubuntu on Mandela Day (July 18), dedicating their 67 Minutes to acts of kindness, restoration, and community upliftment. From clean-ups to donations and animal welfare, here's how they made a difference. Boksburg Community Project The Boksburg Community Project spent their 67 Minutes for Mandela Day cleaning up and restoring the Atlas Vlei, in Atlasville. With the help of volunteers and representatives from local businesses, the team cleaned the area around the vlei, repaired railings, and painted benches and the play area. 'Thank you to the community that joined us today. It's been a fantastic outcome. We chose this park specifically for children; they need green spaces to play in and we don't want them in an environment that has been neglected. That's why we're sprucing it up and making sure it's safe for them,' said Helen Kruger, of the BCP. She extended thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the clean up. East Rand Mall Over 60 East Rand Mall tenants took part in a trolley dash at Checkers, where each tenant had R600 to spend on essential items, such as toothpaste, rice, sugar, and cooking oil. Marketing Manager Tshepiso Kgowana explained that everything collected would be donated to the Tshisusu Foundation. 'This Mandela Day initiative is our way of giving back to the community, and also to celebrate the recent opening of Checkers. We've never done something like this before and it's been a meaningful first for us.' Arveen Singh from the Tshisusu Foundation expressed gratitude for the support received. 'Everything here will go to our soup kitchens and other initiatives so that everyone benefits from what's been donated,' Singh said. St Francis Care Centre Daisy Business Solutions treated the residents and centre with a petting zoo. Residents delighted in interacting with animals, such as bunnies and sheep, while children enjoyed pony rides. In addition to the entertainment, the company donated blankets collected during a recent blanket drive. Children also had the opportunity to paint their hands and add their prints to a commemorative canvas. 'It's a privilege to do this in honour of Mandela. If everyone paid it forward the way he taught us, South Africa would be a better place,' said Daisy Business Solutions managing director Justin Winderly. Jessie Almond, St Francis Care Centre fundraiser, thanked the company for their contribution. Also Read: Mandela Day donations a godsend for St Francis Care Centre Boksburg SPCA In partnership with the National Lotteries Commission, the Boksburg SPCA held a special 'spay day', during which 40 animals were sterilised free of charge for pensioners and unemployed individuals. This initiative offered pet owners, who might otherwise not afford the procedure, the chance to have their animals sterilised. According to the SPCA, sterilisation is vital as it saves lives and prevents unwanted breeding. Also Read: Mandela Day donations a godsend for St Francis Care Centre At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Volunteers called to help clean Atlas Vlei
At Atlas Vlei in Atlasville, a quiet patch of green tucked between city life and forgotten corners, something meaningful is about to happen. On Mandela Day, July 18, the site will become a symbol of what can be achieved when ordinary people come together for the greater good. The Boksburg Community Project is calling on residents, local businesses and volunteers to roll up their sleeves and spend 67 minutes restoring this neglected space — one brushstroke, one bag of litter and one helping hand at a time. Helen Kruger, co-founder of the Boksburg Community Project, said, 'We would like to do a few fix-ups at Atlas Vlei for Mandela Day. It would be wonderful to see true community involvement and hands-on support to bring this space back to life.' The team is urgently seeking a variety of materials to support the restoration effort. These include round steel piping to repair damaged bridge handrails, steel drums to be repurposed into waste bins, and both gum poles and cement for basic structural work. Volunteers are also needed to assist with installing the materials, and someone with a trailer is required to help collect and remove broken branches from the area at 09: of the public are encouraged to help with light tasks such as painting, picking up litter and general clean-up work. The goal is to transform Atlas Vlei into a cleaner, safer and more inviting space for everyone. 'This is about more than just fixing things. It's about community ownership and pride. Mandela Day reminds us that we all have the ability to make a difference — whether it's through donating materials, lending a trailer or simply showing up with a willing heart,' said Kruger. Anyone interested in supporting the initiative can send a WhatsApp message to 079 492 2702. Also Read: Community clean-up initiative sets sights on Atlas Spruit Also Read: Community clean-up a success At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
