Latest news with #ubuntu
Mail & Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
'It's In Your Hands, it's in Our hands' – Let's Volunteer Together on Mandela Day with Ladles of Love
In the spirit of ubuntu, Ladles of Love calls on businesses and South Africans everywhere to put compassion in action, this Mandela Day. Under the banner 'It's In Your Hands,' corporate teams and individuals are invited to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to support children in need at Mandela Day flagship events hosted, at DHL Stadium in Cape Town and Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg. 'Volunteering as a team on Mandela Day is about building community, strengthening workplace wellness, and igniting a culture of ubuntu that can uplift our nation. At Ladles of Love, we believe volunteering is more than just a good deed – it's a civic duty and a powerful form of active citizenship. The upside of this is the joy and happiness that doing good brings to people, who love physically doing something meaningful that will make a difference to a little one in need.' Says Yolanda Jones, Ladles of Love Programme Director. Ladles of Love's Mandela Day events provide volunteer activation stations with all materials supplied to make items to nourish, nurture and grow preschool small children in underserved communities. Furthermore, with every R250 ticket purchased, a child will receive two nutritious meals a day, for a month and for this donation, you can request an 18A Tax certificate. Booking individual tickets or small groups is easy. Simply visit Select a city, choose from four unique Activation Zones : MAKE; CREATE; CRAFT; GROW and secure a two-hour time-slot option: 9am–11am;11am–1pm; 1pm–3pm; 3pm–5pm. For corporate packages over 30 pax Ladles of Love provides a concierge booking service with value-added options such as: Custom-branded Mandela Day apparel; Hero Rolls catering; Exclusive team building areas; and post event CSI Impact study report. Danny Diliberto founder/CEO Ladles of Love: 'Making every day a Mandela Day for small children in need is how we can honour Nelson Mandela's legacy in 2025 and it starts with us rolling up our sleeves and working together to build a better and brighter future for all children in our country. It's time to be kind, be a love activist and be the change you want to see in the world.' TO BOOK YOUR SPOT: Visit: For corporate or large group bookings (20+): Email For more information follow Ladles of Love on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Mandela Day 2025 TVC/Promo: For media queries, contact Candice Jansen on email
Mail & Guardian
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Solidarity, equality, sustainability: School's campaign inspired by SA's G20 theme
Limpopo's Dr MJ Madiba Secondary School alumni have launched #50ToFifty to raise R20 000 for school infrastructure. (File photo) South Africa is the current holder of the G20 presidency under the theme 'solidarity, equality, sustainability'. Our country has been in charge of the international forum of both developing and developed countries since 1 December 2024 with its tenure ending on 30 November 2025. The country's approach to the presidency is aligned to the African philosophy of ubuntu, that 'motho ke motho ka batho', in Sesotho, or 'I am because you are', in English. Significantly, One could ask if there is enough awareness of South Africa's G20 presidency at grassroots level, especially in the rural areas. Using the ubuntu approach, which is similar to the G20 theme, Dr MJ Madiba Secondary School alumni have joined hands to assist their alma mater in rolling out various interventions towards improving teaching and learning and infrastructure and acquiring equipment for the benefit of future generations. The quintile 3 public school, in Ga-Madiba Village, outside Polokwane in Limpopo, was named after linguist, author, educationist and community leader, Dr Moses Josiah Madiba, who died 40 years ago. In 1973, Unisa's Faculty of Education conferred on Madiba an honorary doctorate in education. The Dr MJ Madiba Secondary School With a wall built at the school's entrance with the proceeds of last year's fundraising gala, reaching the R20 000 target set for the campaign will enable the completion of the facelift project, as the school still requires infrastructure such as a new gate and safety information boards. In his In respect of access to education, the youths of today are facing a different liberation struggle from the one which was confronted by the June 16 1976 generation. The #50ToFifty campaign is therefore a notable intervention in creating a sustainable future, especially in light of the UN sustainable development goal 4 on quality education overview: 'Low-and lower-middle-income countries face a nearly $100 billion annual financing gap to reach their education targets.' Furthermore, through the #50ToFifty campaign, alumni are joining efforts by many stakeholders, including the government and corporates, to plug the financial gap, thus creating a conducive environment for education. The bigger picture, besides restoring academic excellence at the school, is also to see it once again flourish in extramural activities such as choral music, softball, athletics, soccer, netball and volleyball. Dr MJ Madiba alumni occupy various sectors in and outside South Africa. A fellow alumnus and manager of the Monotwane Village-based, Naledi Spiders Softball Club, Peter 'Kelly' Sekhaolelo, is at the forefront of ensuring that youth from Ga-Mashashane can compete on an equal footing in the softball sporting code. After all, equality is another element of the South African G20 presidency's theme. It is commendable that, although a teacher at a different school in the Mashashane area, Sekhaolelo is working closely with our alma mater in finding athletics and softball talent in the locality. Moreover, Naledi Spiders has contributed to the development of 'diamond ball' in South Africa, with some of its players having received Dr MJ Madiba had a formidable softball team in the 1980s and, by Sekhaolelo's own admission, he was a fringe player until he matriculated in 1988. Even though some of the school's 1980s 'kitten ball' team members have since died, the line-up at any time brimmed with talent such as City Ledwaba, Jazzino Kola, Klaatjie Lediga, Tebogo Maleka, George Mohlabeng, Marks 'Mongauzi' Ledwaba, Zakes Boroto, Pretty 'Bricks' Magongwa, Levy Mokonyama and Aaron 'Mawethu' Manyelo, thus it was not an easy task breaking into the squad. Through the #50ToFifty campaign, the school's alumni are striving to bring hope and regeneration to their alma mater and the Mashashane community, embodied by the king protea, South Africa's national flower. Protea cynaroides is one of the main elements of the logo for the country's G20 presidency. Dr MJ Madiba was also a community leader and thus it is appropriate that the campaign resonates with the motto he lived by, 'Service to one's people is the rent you pay for your stay on Earth.' To ensure solidarity, equality and sustainability in support of the school's restoration agenda beyond the golden jubilee celebrations, the establishment of a governance structure, specifically an alumni foundation, is in the pipeline. It is therefore an honour to join a cohort of volunteers comprising Robert Setshedi, Dr Nell Ledwaba, Phinah Shadung, Joey Kganyago and Motshelo Boroto, learners from the 1991 to 2004 period, in coordinating the conceptualisation of the #50ToFifty campaign. The team will also lead the implementation of the golden jubilee project and the establishment of a formal alumni governance structure. Malesela Maubane was born in Mohlonong village, Ga-Mashashane, and is a Dr MJ Madiba Secondary School alumnus.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community performers sought for African arts gala
A call-out has been issued for young performers to take part in a summer festival in Bradford which celebrates the arts and culture of the city's African populations. The second BAFA (Bradford African Festival of Arts) will be held in August, centred on the theme of "ubuntu" - a Zulu word meaning "of the people" or "unity". Judith Dlamini, who is part of the festival team, said the idea was "to bring Africa here" but to also encourage people to work together to support those from all communities who may need help. "This is a place where we can just express ourselves and invite lots of people so that they can come and belong," she said. The festival, to be held at several city centre venues between 13 and 16 August, will include a children's theatre performance and a Zulu dance. Organisers have urged children aged six to sixteen who are interested in singing, dancing, acting or cultural displays to get in touch. "It is to express our culture and then teach our children as well," Ms Dlamini said. Festival director and founder Dr Olushola Kolawole said this year's 4-day event would be expanded from last year's inaugural 2-day showcase, and around 4,000 people are expected to attend. BAFA is part of Bradford's 2025 UK City of Culture celebrations and aims to reflect the city's growing African communities, including newcomers from Zimbabwe, Botswana and beyond. It will feature food, music, dance and storytelling from a range of African countries. Ms Dlamini stressed the festival was both a celebration and a response to a need felt by many in the community who may be newer arrivals to the city. "We can work together… we who have been in this country for many years, [and] we can welcome them so that they don't feel lonely," she said. "It is difficult when you have just moved. We want to help to make Bradford feel like home for people, because it has been home for us for many years. So we want those that are joining us here as well to feel at home." Young performers and community groups interested in taking part are encouraged to contact organisers via the Bradford African Festival website. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Culture group hopes £280k revamp will boost footfall Reclaiming the story of Bradford's 1904 Somali village
News24
18-06-2025
- News24
Gift of the Givers ‘water mafia' intimidation an attack on ubuntu, says Mchunu
Staff members of the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers staff were threatened while distributing water to victims of the Mthatha floods. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the attack was 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu'. The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. Describing the 'water mafia's' intimidation of Gift of the Givers staff in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, as 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu', Police Minister Senzo Mchunu urged officers to deal with them. Mchunu went to the town on Saturday and in a statement on Wednesday, he said the police would not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct people who were working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to those affected by the flooding in the area. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need,' Mchunu added. READ | 'Mafia' tells Gift of the Givers to stop providing free water to Mthatha flood victims The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. 'The SAPS will ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in the area and hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.' The Gift of the Givers relief workers were distributing water to flood victims over the weekend when a group of people confronted them and demanded that they cease the relief operation. 'This happened on Saturday when the Gift of the Givers was busy distributing water to flood victims when the criminals directed them to stop what they were doing,' the municipality said in a statement on Tuesday. Confirming the incident, Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the incident was perpetrated by the 'water mafia'. 'While our teams were busy distributing water, they received a threat from one of the service providers to the [OR Tambo District] Municipality. They were concerned that Gift of the Givers was giving water to the communities free of charge,' Sablay said. Mchunu added that police were also alerted to theft from deceased flood victims' homes. 'Police have been deployed to ensure the safety of the property of the deceased,' he said.
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Did JD Vance go through a damascene conversion after visiting Pope Francis?
The Pope is dead; long live the Pope! The original version of this expression is normally used by royalists to mourn the death of a king or queen while in the same breath celebrating the accession of the new one, thereby ensuring the life of the monarchy in perpetuity. This proclamation signifies that kings and queens will come and go but the throne will stand forever. Perhaps in the case of the dearly departed Roman Catholic pontiff we should say, 'Jorge Mario Gergoglio is dead; long live Pope Francis!'. The pope was many things to many people. He was the 'People's Pope', while to others he was an 'intellectual', a 'progressive', 'radical', 'warrior', 'leftist' or 'liberation theologist' and so on and so forth. For me, he was a genuine human being who preached Ubuntu without using the Southern African word. The pontiff didn't just live the philosophy of Ubuntu – 'humanity to others' – he espoused it more and more in the twilight of his life. And there's still a lot of work to be done in this regard around the world. Pope Francis tried to preach ubuntu indirectly to US President Donald Trump and his leadership as he began wreaking havoc in the Land of the Free and around the world at the beginning of the year. The pontiff wrote to his bishops condemning the massive deportation and ill treatment of migrants, referencing the Catholic concept of ordo amoris – the order of love. Francis wrote that "it is only by affirming the infinite dignity of all that our own identity as persons and as communities reaches its maturity". He stated that 'love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups'. He argued that the 'true ordo amoris' that needs to be promoted widely is that exemplified by the parable of the Good Samaritan, a love that 'builds a fraternity open to all, without exception'. US Vice President JD Vance, who paid a very puzzling visit to the Vatican just before the pope's passing, has a very different view about this love principle: 'You love your family, and then you love your neighbour, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. And then after that, you can focus and prioritise the rest of the world.' They say good things come to those who wait, but I don't think it's advisable for any migrant or citizen of the 'rest of the world' nations like South Africa, China, Lesotho and so on, to wait for the Trump administration's love. But perhaps, a damascene conversion happened when Vance visited Rome. To honour Pope Francis, let's all Make the Order of Love Fashionable Again!
