Mandela’s legacy applied towards sustainable development
The Gordon’s Institute for Business Science hosted a series of SDG Ted Talks for Mandela Day.
The Gordon’s Institute for Business Science (GIBS) in Illovo continued its newly-established tradition of partnering with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and United Nations towards hosting Ted Talks as a part of their Mandela Day celebrations.
Various industry leaders and visionaries working in alignment with South Africa’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) converged at the Gordon’s Institute campus for a second year on July 18.
In addition to Ted Talks from Wandile Sihlobo on sustainable agriculture, and Shudufhadzo Musida’s talk on quality education, the event also hosted a digital exhibition hosted by artists Duane Zisson and Moon Mokgoro.
Water and climate change activist Dr Ferrial Adam, dropped a shocking information bomb: at least 500 000 litres of sewage is flowing into our rivers, streams, dams, and beaches.
“We don’t have a lot of water to waste or pollute. South Africa is a water-scarce country, and we all know that from how often it’s said. But do we believe it?” Adam said.
“We will not have enough water to meet demand in 2025, let alone 2030 SDG goals.”
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Head of Mandela Day at the Nelson Mandela Foundation Gushwell Brooks said, “at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, we don’t believe that the work only happens on July 18; it’s long-term, sustainable work that we do on a daily basis.
“July 18 represents an opportunity for us to showcase this work, and the efforts which have gone into trying to fix what has gone wrong.”
Brooks spoke about how the foundation had worked with the United Nations towards releasing a book of quotes by Madiba which refer to South Africa’s sustainable development goals.
“Mandela wasn’t thinking of the SDGs because they didn’t exist yet, but what the UN did was find these really interesting bits and pieces from what Madiba had to say, and they linked these back to each one of the seventeen SDGs.”
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