Minister of Basic Education Mrs Angie Motshekga, MP, in partnership with Lead SA, SHOUT, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Brand SA and Proudly South African, led hundreds of South Africans in singing Happy Birthday to former President Nelson Mandela during a recording of the special Birthday Song for Madiba in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 29 May 2012.
The day was marked with several hundred excited locals who sang in unity and in honour of Madiba's 94th Birthday and his legacy of active citizenship. Over 2 000 people converged on Nelson Mandela Square for the event, which was recorded ahead of the former president's 94th birthday on 18 July 2012. The song will be officially released on 18 June 2012 in order to give the whole of South Africa a month to practice singing it for President Mandela's 94th birthday.
This event follows on from the department’s initiative in 2011, which saw learners in schools across the country singing for the former President on his birthday.
In addition to the birthday song recording, this year the department will also pay tribute to former President Mandela's commitment to education of all South Africans through the 94 Projects for Madiba campaign.
The campaign will see the department joining hands with corporate South Africa to upgrade and refurbish 94 of the country's neediest schools to ensure that the learners they serve have access to a safe environment conducive to learning.
