Responding to the 67 minutes campaign in celebration of former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July, Deputy Minister for Basic Education Enver Surty, accompanied by the Eastern Cape MEC for Education Mahlubandile Qwase, planted trees at Qunu Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Mthatha and Unathi Senior Secondary School (SSS) at Cambridge in East London. They were also involved in cleaning the schools and painting the South African National Flag on the schools’ walls.
Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and a global call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them.
“We are happy and proud to have paint in our hands after painting the National Flag at Qunu JSS and dug holes for the trees. This is to show Madiba that we love and value the 67 years of his service to the nation,” said Surty.
MEC Qwase encouraged the students to dedicate the 67 minutes of their time in rendering community services in honour of Dr Mandela.
Surty donated books on the South African liberation struggle to the two schools. He said the books will educate the learners about the South African history.
“The books will also create awareness to the learners of where they come from. This is important because it will determine where they will be going in the future,” Surty concluded.
Issued by: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
24 July 2009
Source: Department of Education, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
