President Jacob Zuma will celebrate Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July with older persons from all over the country, at a service delivery outreach party in Ivory Park, to mark the birthday of the first President of a democratic and free South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the 46664 campaign are running the Nelson Mandela Day campaign, supported by government. During the State of the Nation Address, President Zuma called upon all South Africans and the world to spend 67 minutes of their time performing duties or activities that are useful to the community. This is to mark the fact that former President Mandela dedicated 67 years of his life to the service of humanity, fighting for peace, justice, development and freedom.
"We can best honour our icon, Madiba, through attempting in our own small ways to do what he would be proud of. Nothing would please him more than to see all South Africans, black and white, active in the service of humanity, especially to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate and people in distress. Madiba contributed his entire adult life to this country and its people. This is the least we can do to honour him and take forward his legacy," said President Zuma.
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Edna Molewa said the older person's outreach programme at Ivory Park will honour Madiba through highlighting government services to older persons, and will celebrate their service to their families and the country. "It is designed to emphasise the fact that older persons should not be viewed as a burden to society, but as people who can and who still contribute immensely to the life of the nation in various ways. They are our treasure and should be honoured by all of us, just as we honour Madiba, our most famous older person in the country," said the Minister.
The humanitarian organisation the Gift of the Givers is a partner to the Presidency and Social Development in the project and will hand out hampers and other birthday goodies to older persons. The President reiterated his call to all South Africans to spend 67 minutes of their time performing tasks that are in the spirit of the campaign on the day.
President Zuma will earlier in the day visit Madiba to express his birthday wishes. The Gauteng Provincial Government, Home Affairs and the South African Social Security Agency will run build-up programmes next week, providing social grants registrations, health services and civic document registrations to older persons.
The details of the event are as follows:
Date: 18 July 2009
Time: 12h00
Venue: Ivory North Community Hall
Enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Presidential Spokesperson
Cell: 082 835 6315
Zanele Mngadi
Social Development Spokesperson
Cell: 082 330 01148
For media RSVPs contact:
Nthabiseng Rantao
Cell: 082 570 5503
Issued by: The Presidency
10 July 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)
