The 18th of July is being celebrated globally as Mandela Day. Everybody in the world is being asked to do something to help others for at least 67 minutes.
In line with the global movement, the national Department of Public Works will, through its Regional Offices network, celebrate Mandela Day through an array of activities specifically planned for the day.
The Minister: Minister Geoff Doidge will visit Expanded Public Works (EPWP) Winterveldt Community Project tomorrow, 18 July 2009 to donate toys and other items to the children of
this centre.
Venue: Winterveldt Community Project, Northern Tshwane, Odi District
Time: 9h00
Date: 18 July 2009
The EPWP Winterveldt Community Project is a non-profit organisation that was established by community members driven by social issues such as high poverty rate, unemployment, crime and the spread of HIV/AIDS that mostly affect children. There are six care workers and 27 volunteers at this centre. This team cares for 220 children on a daily basis.
The Deputy Minister: On Monday, 20 July 2009, Ms Ipeleng Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, MP, will visit both the Prinshof School for the blind and the Leamogetswe in Atteridgeville in honour of Mandela Day. As in the past, the Deputy Minister appeals for involvement of staff particularly regarding contributions in kind. An assessment of the infrastructure work necessary has been done in the two institutions and work required determined. The Office of the Deputy Minister was only waiting costing in order to source resources and implement.
Port Elizabeth: The PE Office will donate food parcels and blankets to neglected kids and impoverished families in the Kwazakhele Township on Friday the 17th of July.
Mmabatho regional office will be donating food and clothes to Lomanyaneng Home Based Care Centre and Lapa la Botlhe Old Age Home on 17 July. During the event the Mmabatho Regional Office choir will be singing at the care centres.
Durban regional office will be visiting the Abalindi Old age and Children Home in Inanda informal settlement; the officials will be handing out food and clothes.
Nelspruit regional office has identified Bettie’s Haven Orphanage as its Mandela Day project. It has 23 children of ages ranging from 6 months to 23 years and it will be visited on Friday (17 July 2009). Employees are contributing a sum of R50-00 or more which will go towards buying groceries and be given to them on the day and employees will be requested to assist in cooking, cleaning or even doing their gardening.
Johannesburg regional office: The Johannesburg Regional Office had planned to have a music and poetry session in the region in celebration of Madiba.
Polokwane regional office: The Region has requested donations in the form of clothing and food parcels from members of staff as part of social responsibility programme, this is in partnership with internal Horticultural Services in which we intend to donate vegetable seeds which will be planted by the staff members during the Nelson Mandela Day to the identified school at the Reakgona Adult Centre which is a school for the intellectually disabled people around Polokwane and the donations will be given to them during the Nelson Mandela Day. Some of the staff members will be cleaning the school yard just to make the learners feel that they are wanted and are part of the community.
Cape town regional office: Cape Town has and is collecting food and clothing and will be delivering it on Friday, 17 July 2009, at an orphanage and homeless shelter.
Pretoria regional office: The Regional Office together with COT/ABAMS (abongi bemvelo project managers), are planning to launch the programme of job creation within the Environmental sector under EPWP in Soshanguve. The project has created 50 job opportunities within that community and regarded as a pilot with rollouts targeted for the other parts of Tshwane. Given prior commitments of principal role players, a date of 27 July 2009 is being proposed with the office of the Minister and other dignitaries.
Kimberley regional office will celebrate Mandela Day on Friday the 17th of July 2009. The staff will spend the day with children while they will be donating food, clothes and / or toys to the children of “Lerato Place of Safety” community home, in Galeshewe, which is a home to orphaned children affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. Employees will also cook, clean, do gardening and also do some DIY work that is required in the home.
Bloemfontein regional office: The office has identified Iphahamiseng Child Care Centre for Mandela Day. The programme starts at 10:00 until 13:00 and entails providing a meal and entertainment for 46 children. Donations (Cash, ingredients, clothing and blankets) from officials will fund the event.The office will prepare the meal and entertain the children of this centre.
Issued by: Department of Public Works
17 July 2009
