July 18 marked International Mandela Day and the birthday of the late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
Mandela would have turned 100 years old on Wednesday.
In Boksburg, a number of organisations and individuals spent their time carrying out a variety of charitable acts on the occasion.
Landis+Gyr
A Centurion-based Landis+Gyr team spent time at a Reiger Park Crèche, and Mathew Ukhozi Foundation performed charitable work for the more than 250 children.
The company donated 100 pre-school stackable beds and dozens of blankets. They also spent time interacting with the children at the centre.
The children received party packs. They engaged in colouring exercises and also played games, enjoying the jumping castle.
Landis+Gyr’s Mercia Harris, a resident of Reiger Park, said she alerted her employer to the centre’s dire situation, which included lack of funding and resources for the children. A decision was then taken that the organisation visit the school and lend a helping hand in celebration of Tata Madiba.
The founder of the centre Elna Khoza expressed her gratitude to the company, saying the donations would help relieve the plight of children from families living in extreme poverty.
“For these children, this kind of action gives them hope and is really appreciated. As you can see yourself they are so excited and feel at ease,” said Khoza.
“I would like more people to do this for the needy children in our communities and the country,” she added.
Tuckers
Likewise, the Ravenswood-based law firm, Tuckers Inc, in collaboration with Universal Paint-Bruma, visited Tswelopele Pre-school in Angelo’ informal settlement. They spent their time lending a helping hand to celebrate the Mandela Day.
They cleaned up. painted, renovated and repaired the school.
In addition, the team donated perishable and non-perishable food. All this brought smiles to the children’s faces.
Ward 32 councillor and committee members
Meanwhile, Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos in collaboration with his team of ward committee members, organised a Mandela Day celebration event for the different communities in the ward.
They organised a fun walk which they described as ‘A Long Walk’, for the residents of Cinderella Hostel, Boksburg South and Andries Scribante Haven.
The event saw participants walking in large groups to the centre where they spent the day singing, dancing and listening to different guest speakers who delivered speeches on Madiba’ s life and legacy.
The speakers included Reverend Clarence Wentzel from the Methodist Church. As a keynote speaker, he spoke about the life of Madiba and encouraged residents to stand together and to love each other as a nation.
Fifty blankets were handed out to deserving attendees during the event.
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A wonderful day of fun and joy in honour of Madiba
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