Heritage site mooted for Mandela host family homestead
ALEXANDRA - In the recent celebration of Mandela day, many organisations and companies stressed a need for Mandela mania to be part of our daily lives in order to imprint a culture of goodness, giving and forgiveness.
Many organisations and companies stress a need for the ideals of Nelson Mandela to be part of our daily lives in order to imprint a culture of goodness, giving and forgiveness.
This theme dominated most of the activities which this paper covered on Mandela Day, July 18 when the nation celebrated the life of the late global icon who led South Africa to democracy in 1994.
One organisation is further urging that other lesser mortals who also played a role in nurturing Mandela in the various stages of his life should also not be forgotten. When Mandela first came to Johannesburg he was accommodated by the Xhoma family living on 7th Avenue, Alexandra. The family still resides at the same house and Mandela’s room still attracts local and international visitors.
The unassuming family is host to an annual event of Mandela’s remembrance which is staged by local organisation, Tshebedisano Support Network. The occasion brings together members of the Xhoma family with elderly residents and children to reminisce on the life and moments of this icon during his time in the area.
The network co-ordinator, Cedric Chauke said they were working on making the Xhoma homestead a heritage site to preserve history. “They [Xhoma family] risked their lives just to be good to a person who later became a global icon and therefore deserve recognition for their goodness,” he said.
The network also supports children by providing food parcels and getting them involved in sports.
“We started an U15 and 18 Alex Baseball Club and our U15’s have already won the Gauteng Baseball Federation cup,” said Chauke. The team members are from Realogile, Alex High, Eastbank, Kwabhekilanga, Liberty secondary schools and Carter, MC Weiler, Skeen, Bovert and Liberty primary schools.
