The “Take Action! Inspire Change!” campaign to celebrate former President and world icon, Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday celebrated last Monday, brought joy, warmth and a R3,2 million housing development project to poor, disabled and destitute villagers in Seolong outside Rustenburg in the North West Province.
Provincial MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono, and Moses Kotane Local Municipality mayor, Councillor Fetsang Mokate-Thebe, distributed blankets to 40 elderly villagers and donated two wheel-chairs to 71 year old Johannes Mosoki and 58 year old Sydney Mfelang.
MEC Mohono, Mayor Mokate-Thebe and Local Chief, Kgosi Ntefang Sefanyetso, spent most of their 67 minutes digging a foundation at 75 year old Dikeledi Ditau’s yard as part of the global movement to honour Nelson Mandela for the legacy of 67 years of humility and selfless community service that he rendered the people of South Africa and the world.
“I’ll always treasure and remember Madiba’s 93rd birthday celebration as I’ve always been longing to have a proper house which I could call home. We are excited that government under President Jacob Zuma is compassionate to us and advancing Madiba’s legacy” said the blind Ditau. The emotional Ditau who lives in a mud house could not stop singing praises about how great Nelson Mandela is.
The team of volunteers that included councillors from Moses Kotane Local Municipality, officials of the Provincial Department of human Settlements, Public safety and Liaison and local villagers, dug three foundations for commencement of construction of fifty houses targeted at the disabled, elderly and child headed households in the village.
According to MEC Mohono, the 67 minutes spent making a difference in people’s lives, signify what the former president stood for. She described Mandela as a man of stature who has displayed his selflessness to the people of South Africa and the entire world. Villagers, more especially elders, came in numbers to witness and also give a hand in the casting of foundations. MEC Mohono further called on beneficiaries to take care of those houses upon completion, as they will be memorial as a symbol of the efforts taken by a great man Nelson Mandela during his active participation in politics.
“We must remember what Mandela did and live by his examples. We are lucky as South Africans to have such a great leader in our country, who is also recognised internationally. Let’s embrace his goodwill and live by it,” said MEC Mohono.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: (018) 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Warmth, compassion and over R3,2 million housing project to celebrate Madiba's 93rd birthday
Province
