With Trek4Mandela, the metro has sponsored the well-known Sibusiso Vilane and his team to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of Madiba.
Metro spokesman Samuel Modiba said the municipality will this year celebrate International Nelson Mandela Day (July 18) in a manner that depicts the journey of endurance travelled by former President and world icon Nelson Mandela.
“This is a challenge that will take International Nelson Mandela Day to another level, with a long term view of converting every day in the city to a Mandela Day,” said Modiba.
Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele said the pursuit of excellence requires the attributes of resilience and endurance as evidenced in the life of Mandela.
“The question is: do we know what Mandela stands for? Can we boldly say we will live up to his legacy?” the mayor asked.
Gungubele handed over the city’s flag to the Trek4Mandela team to fly at the peak of the majestic mountain, in honour of Madiba, at a media briefing in Germiston, on July 8.
He said the Trek4Mandela challenge will be used to raise funds for identified projects, namely the Caring4Girls and Youth Leadership Development programmes, as part of the 67 Minutes for Mandela’s call of goodwill.
The Caring4girls project is set to benefit 500 secondary underprivileged school girls at two of the priority areas in Ekurhuleni (Winnie Mandela and Zonkezizwe), through the provision of a year’s supply of sanitary towels.
The sanitary towels will come with a complete hygiene kits and educational manuals.
According to Vilane, he has conquered all highest mountains in the world, but there are yet still many mountains, in terms of charity work, to be conquered.
“When I was invited to climb Kilimanjaro for a cause that will give many girls their dignity back, I didn’t hesitate,” he said.
“I was touched to hear that there are actually millions of girls without access to sanitary towels, as a result of which some eventually drop out of school.”
The team will depart on July 13, to pursue the six-day journey to the peak of the mountain, and are expected back on July 21.
The second leg of the city’s programme includes hot spot interventions for the 67-minute element of the campaign, on July 18.
The final and third leg will see the municipality continue to deliver meaningful programmes beyond International Nelson Mandela Month, as it strives to make every day a Mandela Day.
