Should Nelson Mandela Day be included as a public holiday?
Review asked residents if they thought Mandela Day should be included among the country's public holidays.
POLOKWANE – The nation will be commemorating the birth of the late father of the nation. A humanitarian giant, a legend, and a freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, on July 18.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” – quote from Nelson Mandela.
What are you doing with your 67 minutes this Mandela day
Nelson Mandela Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday. It was inspired by a request Nelson Mandela made in 2008 for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”. It is more than a celebration of Madiba’s life and legacy, it is a global movement to honour his life’s work, an act to change the world for the better. The celebration of Mandela Day aims to serve as a global call to action for people to “recognise their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better”, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Most people will be devoting 67 minutes of their time, one minute for every year of Mandela’s public service. People can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global movement for good.
Review asked residents if they thought Mandela Day should be included among the country’s public holidays. Most people would want to be part of the 67 minutes of making a difference, but because of work and busy schedules, they are unable to.
Gulm Khalifa said it didn’t have to be a holiday, it’s fine the way it is.
Grieth van Wyk says it should be a holiday, because Mandela was a great man.
“We have to respect what he has done for us, we must do something that would have made him happy if he was still alive,” she said.
Joe Appelgayn agreed that the day should be a holiday so people can have enough time to share their 67 minutes.
Lillian Letseko and Samson Meso agreed.
“He gave us freedom and we are where we are today because of him, we are not oppressed anymore. Our children even have white friends and go to multi racial schools,” Letseko said.
Amanda Thobela and Madelein van der Merwe said the day should definitely be a holiday. “We carry him in our hearts every day, he spent 27 years in prison, the least we could do is make a difference in someone’s life with that 67 minutes,” Thobela said.
