Latest news with #NelsonMandelaDay
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Mandela Day brings lasting impact to Eldorado Park special needs centre
In honour of Nelson Mandela Day, Jicama 89, an NPO dedicated to resource development for special needs schools, hosted an impactful day of giving at the Harvey Cohen Centre (HCC) for Learners with Special Educational Needs in Ext 6, Eldorado Park. Jicama 89 partnered with International Gaming Technology and Lancet Laboratories to give the centre a fresh look. The day was filled with activities aimed at uplifting learners, ranging from painting the school's interiors to providing warm meals. ALSO READ: Local netball club celebrates Mandela day in style The initiative was led by Kaylin Everton, director of operations for Jicama 89, who emphasised that supporting schools like HCC is not just a once-off event but part of the organisation's ongoing commitment. 'This is not something that just happens on Mandela Day. For us, it is a continuous effort. HCC is one of our beneficiary schools, and it's our responsibility to show up for them,' said Everton. Jicama 89 supports three institutions, including Sibonile School for the Blind, Isizwe Sechaba Special School and HCC, sourcing donations that range from food and chemicals to infrastructure repairs and mobility aids. While Mandela Day brought public focus to the organisation's work, Everton stressed that their goal goes far beyond symbolic acts. ALSO READ: Foundation marks Mandela Day by championing health matters 'We aim to integrate these children into society and ensure they have the same opportunities as any other child. We do not see disabilities, we see ability, potential, and value,' she added. The impact of the partnership was visible at the HCC Centre. From fresh paint donated by Universal Paints to roofing and ceiling repairs contributed by IGT, the collaborative effort turned the day into something meaningful. 'IGT saw the leaking roof and did not hesitate; they fixed it and replaced the damaged ceiling boards. This means our kids will now be safer and warmer, especially in winter,' said Everton. The principal, Cheryl Scott, cited that the timing was perfect as the school had challenges with a leaking roof at the hostels. 'We are grateful for the support as we celebrate a great man. I want to brag because Madiba was on these grounds in April 1999, and we continue to commemorate him. We are blessed by the companies that made a difference.'She said the school is facing financial challenges due to funding cuts. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
a day ago
- Health
- IOL News
Med-Lemon spreads warmth and care with MES at the Impilo Shelter this Mandela Day
Marking Mandela Day at Impilo Shelter, Med-Lemon and Haleon shared warmth with handmade 'Hero Blankets' for people facing homelessness, Image: Supplied Image: Supplied Homelessness in South Africa has a familiar face. In a country where youth unemployment stands at 45.5%, and an estimated 15% of the population suffers from drug addiction, many are left vulnerable to a life on the streets. In fact, across the world today, studies are showing that many people are just one salary, or one crisis away from homelessness. Today it could be a stranger; tomorrow a friend, neighbour, or family member facing the perils of being without shelter – let alone a place to call home. Amid this harsh reality, organisations like MES are working tirelessly to bring about change and restore dignity to the lives of hundreds of South Africans grappling with destitution. In commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day, Med-Lemon joined forces with MES at its Impilo Shelter in Jeppestown, Johannesburg, to spread warmth and care to young adults housed at the shelter. At the heart of this initiative is the brand's 'Hero Blanket,' made from knitted squares lovingly created by Med-Lemon and Haleon staff. As a global leader in consumer health, Haleon delivers everyday health with humanity through its portfolio of brands, including Med-Lemon. Combining deep human understanding and trusted science, Haleon SA aims to serve the needs of local communities through self-care products, continuing a trusted legacy of empowering millions of people toward effective self-care practices. 50 of the handmade blankets were gifted to beneficiaries, along with a warm bowl of soup and bread. This collective creation symbolises the compassion, care and togetherness that Haleon espouses. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading More than just a meal Founded in 1986 in the heart of Hillbrow by the Dutch Reformed Church, MES initially focused on meal provision through its evangelical roots. However, as needs evolved, so did its mission – now centred on 'Mould Empower Serve.' 'This shelter provides overnight and short-term accommodation for people in desperate need. For just R20, we offer a bed and three meals a day,' said Thabiso Ramasike, Acting CEO at MES. 'But we realised early on that a providing a meal alone isn't enough. Homelessness strips people of their dignity. Our mission is to restore that dignity through structured programmes that equip individuals with life skills, psychosocial support, and ultimately, a path to reintegration.' MES runs shelters in Johannesburg, Kempton Park, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, with outreach programmes designed to bring people in from the streets. Once engaged, social workers assess their needs and place them into structured six-week programmes, with the ultimate goal to help them exit the system and regain independence. 'At any given time, our shelters are housing 300-400 people overnight collectively. The idea is not to house more, but to house fewer because they are exiting the system stronger and better off,' Ramasike added. Image: Supplied Warmth in every stitch 'At Med-Lemon, we've long been trusted to bring warmth and relief to those battling colds and flu across the country,' said Bronwyn Hughes, Brand Manager for Med-Lemon at Haleon. 'Through this heartfelt initiative, we're honoured to extend that comfort in a more tangible way - by providing warm, specially knitted blankets to the beneficiaries at Impilo. Beyond warmth, this effort also supported skills development, with our knitting partners leading a meaningful educational session that empowered participants with both knowledge and connection.' Hughes added that Med-Lemon looks forward to expanding the initiative across the country – reaching more communities and reminding people experiencing homelessness that they are seen, valued, and supported. Nonhlanhla Zulu, Unit Leader for Outreach and Social Relief at Impilo Shelter emphasised the pivotal role external support played. 'When brands like Med-Lemon reach out, it means the world. Remember, we are a non-profit organisation, we can't do this alone, and every bit of support goes a long way. And for our beneficiaries, it affirms that they haven't been forgotten.' As South Africans honour Nelson Mandela's legacy this July, initiatives like Med-Lemon's act of service at Impilo Shelter serve as powerful reminders that restoring hope and dignity is a collective effort. Every stitch in a blanket, every meal served, and every hand extended reaffirms that change is possible – when we choose to see and uplift one another.
The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Glow of Mandela Day is dimming in a harsher world
Twelve years after his death, Mandela's legacy risks being reduced to performative charity and forgotten T-shirts. Youngsters from the central Johannesburg community drink some water as they queue for food, while wearing their 67 Blankets For Nelson Mandela Day donations of scarves and beanies, 18 July 2025. The distribution forms part of the annual Nelson Mandela Day initiative. Scarves, knitted by volunteers across South Africa, were distributed at Port Plein Park and were available for anyone to help themselves. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen It was in 2009 that the call to do 67 minutes for Mandela on the great man's birthday, 18 July, first sounded. It seemed a bizarre number, hardly long enough to paint a classroom, much less tend a food garden but perfect if you were packing food – or posing for a pic in the local newspaper. And there was plenty of that. Mandela Day became the bane of every newspaper editor and news editor in the country, from the big mainstream dailies to the knockand-drops, with secretaries and PRs demanding coverage. It was ubiquitous. People even summited Kilimanjaro on Madiba's birthday, ostensibly to keep the girl in school by drawing attention to the dearth of sanitary products that would keep girls at home, rather than face the embarrassment of being in class during their period. ALSO READ: Gauteng Hospitals achieve record 806 surgeries on Mandela Day Much of the public displays of piety, charity and Ubuntu were performative and public – flying right in the face of the Good Book's injunction to keep alms deeds private. But much of it was real. The glow might have faded from the faces of school kids when the celebs left and the TV camera lights were doused, but at least they were left with (delete as applicable) new libraries/ painted classrooms/planted food gardens/JoJo tanks/new shoes/ stationery kits. Mandela has been gone 12 years, come December, and the momentum for 67 minutes, codified to represent a minute for each year of his life that he dedicated to public service, seems to have stuttered a bit. There are still the old stagers drawn like fading moths to the guttering candle light of a pic in the local newspaper (or self-published on LinkedIn and cross-pollinated by eager staffers on their Facebook and X accounts), but the wave that was once a tsunami of self-congratulation certainly seems to have ebbed. ALSO READ: Mlindo The Vocalist releases his long-awaited album on Mandela Day as a way of 'giving back' It's a pity. It doesn't matter what the motivation was to take part in Mandela Day – and literally getting the T-shirt – the recipients benefited. But it's not surprising if less good works are being done, because the world is a far harsher, crueller place than it was in Madiba's day. It's manifestly more selfish and graphically more unequal and the vulnerable are at even greater risk. You don't even see people wearing their Mandela Day T-shirts any more – even if it is just once a year. We are poorer for that – all of us. Tata Madiba deserved better. NOW READ: WATCH: Pandor calls on world leaders to be good 'troublemakers' like Madiba
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Why Mandela Day cannot be a time of celebration amid ongoing challenges
Dr Pali Lohohla was privileged to go and count President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu during Census 2011. Image: File Image Independent Newspapers General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's report card of the 6th of July to the nation was not a statistical release of crime but one which discusses what the drivers of crime and how that plunges South Africa into what would be a failed state. This came 12 days before a globally acclaimed date on the global calendar which is Nelson Mandela Day – a euphoria in which South Africa could legitimately bask, but for reasons of neglect to memorialize we are unable to even if momentarily retire in this memorable vista. Eleven years ago, I was privileged yet again to count the South African population. But this privilege was met with protestations by some communities in the country. Amongst the three that I had to spend time on was one by the residents of Silvertown, in Kwa-Sakhele in Ggeberha (Port Elizabeth). In the Twelfth Night Malvolio having been tricked into thinking Olivia thinks deeply about matters of the heart towards him fell for the line on greatness that Maria had laid as a trap for him. It read 'some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.' On the morning of 22nd of October 2011, I was privileged to go and count President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu during Census 2011. This rare privilege was possibly the last for Madiba to be publicly seen in relatively good health. What made the meeting profound was the extreme pain Madiba suffered by reading about the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. Newspapers strewn across his table showed the bloodied and lifeless pictures of Gaddafi's body. My subsequent appearance in Silvertown, which was five days after meeting Madiba was met with major demands. The citizens of this township of corrugated iron dwelling structures, refused to be counted unless their councillor reports back and I was tasked with the responsibility of bringing the councillor to Silvertown from Gqeberha. I argued that they themselves have such powers and I do not. But in the eyes of Kwa-Zakhele citizens, the public enlisting of President Mandela had thrust Malvolian greatness upon me. I refused to fall for the trap though, instead I offered to release the results of the Census of their township when they were out 12 months later. They then agreed to be counted with several conditionalities that would take the whole day to enlist and the space in this column does not allow. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Fourteen months later in December 2012, I reported back in Kwa-Zakhele to deliver the results. It was a statistical report on Kwa-Zakhele and it was not pretty at all. It revealed no new facts but when aggregated and contextualised with other places, they were bone gnawing and marrow sucking. I had been in the tin homes in 2011 when we did the count. But the force of aggregation that said we all do not have regular running water, we all do not have toilet facilities and we all live in tin shacks, the message was potent. Within a short space of time Kwa-Zakhele had a Caterpillar cleaning and repairing the streets. Whoever was the council was driven by the numbers and the premier's focus was on Kwa-Zakhele. This response is not the most favourable especially when the problem had long been coming but only triggered to be an emergency by being revealed. Unfortunately public policy in South Africa has become an object of inconvenience where public outcry for services is seen as being the absence of gratitude, pointing at maleficence by the powerful is seen as being unpatriotic, grants, necessary as they are albeit a sign of governance failure are dangled in front of the poor as caring, lowering pass rate marks is seen as granting mercy to disadvantaged, introduction of maths literacy is considered as medicine for mathematics teaching defects, Two-Pot withdrawals system is seen as financial relief to the suffering working class and failing at the polls is seen as mandate and remembrance of the 1994 moment and justification and a reset for a national dialogue. The national dialogue has long been in the making and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the direct and sober way opposition parliamentarians responded to the budget of the Presidency is a clear indicator of the temperature and tempo of the national dialogue. The minister of defence correctly rebuked any thought of a coup d'etat by the minister in the presidency. South Africans are not about coup d'etat. They are just reminding us the elite about Amilcar Cabral's saying that, 'Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.' In line with his Polokwane address of how we will remember those who paid with life and limb and I mention only two of the eight points then President Thabo Mbeki quoted from Madiba. He said, 'Thirdly – the challenges of creating a people-centred society, of living up to the vision contained in the Freedom Charter, requires that all elements of South African society be subjected to genuine reconstruction and development. Fourth – that process of reconstruction and development will also have to encompass the spiritual life of the nation, bearing on the moral renewal of individuals and institutions, as well as the ideas and practice of a new patriotism.' It is sad that at 31 years the South African Presidents in succession hardly refer to what a predecessor took on board. This nullifies the thought of continuity of change. It seems only Mbeki could quote his predecessor and has often done so with his successors as well. Absence of such points of reference to fellow statesmen in the form of critique or affirmation points to lack of continuity of plans. Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, among other hats. Image: Supplied Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, a Research Associate at Oxford University, a board member of Institute for Economic Justice at Wits and a distinguished Alumni of the University of Ghana. He is the former Statistician-General of South Africa. *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Tshwane's tree-planting initiative in Mamelodi celebrates G20 legacy
The Executive Mayor of Tshwane Nasiphi Moya planting symbolic legacy trees in commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day in Mamelodi East. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane embarked on a tree-planting initiative in Mamelodi township on Monday as part of its commitment to the G20 legacy project. The effort aims to make residents feel included in the international event's activities and follows a commitment made during the June Shepherd meeting co-hosted by Tshwane and the City of Johannesburg. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the tree-planting event coincided with the Nelson Mandela Day celebrations, which were officially observed on Friday. 'This is part of our G20 commitment. We hosted the Shepherd meeting earlier in June, and part of that was for legacy projects, which means we must do something even if it is in the name of G20, where the residents of Tshwane would feel that they were part of that milestone that we have achieved as the city in co-hosting the G20,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A team of municipal officials from the horticultural department, community members, and leaders joined hands in a collaborative effort to plant trees. The initiative is part of the city's broader goal to green its townships and beautify its parks. Moya said the city aims to not only beautify its parks but also prioritise greening them, as these open spaces are utilised by the community. 'We just want to beautify our city. One of the things that we have seen is that townships are naked, but when you go to the suburbs, they are green and beautiful,' she said. She emphasised that the city needs to educate communities about the importance of greening spaces, as some residents cut down trees, citing obstruction of their homes. 'We need to teach them about the importance of greening our spaces, especially as we are fighting climate change,' she said. The city has set a target to plant 300,000 trees by December and has called on residents to come and collect trees from the municipality. 'That is the ideal target that we want to contribute to Gauteng because there are provincial and national targets,' Moya said, noting that on Monday, they planted 28 trees at Mandela Park in the township and at a local preschool. The tree-planting initiative also aimed to tackle hunger in collaboration with a non-profit organisation called Backyard Farmers. Moya said: 'Our people are hungry, and that is why we are collaborating with the Backyard Farmers to promote to our people that you don't need to wait for help while you have a piece of land.' Thabang Shongwe of Backyard Farmers welcomed the city's initiative to combat hunger, describing it as commendable. 'We are fully behind the mayor's climate action plan. This is part of our community greening programme where we go to communities and hand out trees,' he said. On Friday, Moya visited Ga-Rankuwa, where the city donated blankets to beneficiaries of the Ikageng Centre, specifically supporting visually impaired children. She said that aligning the tree-planting initiative with Mandela Day is crucial, as it reflects the legacy of a healthy nation they aim to leave behind and addresses climate change through nature-based solutions.
