The Deputy Ministers of Trade and Industry (DTI) Thandi Tobias-Pokolo and Maria Ntuli, will join communities in the Free State and Mpumalanga respectively, tomorrow, 18 July 2009, to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to South Africans who are less privileged, in celebrating Nelson Mandela's life and legacy.
Deputy Minister Tobias-Pokolo will lead a group of the DTI officials to Heilbron, in the Free State, where she will assist with the painting of Phiritona Secondary School.
Deputy Minister Ntuli will head to Vaalbank, in Mpumalanga, where she will join volunteers in brining joy to elderly citizens at Lehlabile old age home. Both activities will start at 10h00.
Mandela Day celebrations resulted from a call made by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, echoed by President Zuma in his inaugural State of the Nation Address, to recognise 18 July as the birth date of the struggle icon, acknowledge the 67 years of Madiba's political life and dedication to the liberation of South Africa.
The campaign calls upon the people of South Africa and the world to volunteer 67 minutes or more in doing something to benefit their communities, especially under-privileged sectors of the population, with the aim of uplifting them and spreading the message of joy and giving, as personified by Madiba himself.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele
Tell: 012 394 1643
Cell: 078 526 8572
E-mail: BLukhele@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
17 July 2009
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.thedti.gov.za)
