NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 26 JULY 2017 KOU-KAMMA MUNICIPALITY

Every year on 18 July South Africans together with the global community honour our late former president and international icon Nelson Mandela in the celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day. The day was officially adopted by the United Nations in November 2009 as an annual international day. The UN noted that marking the day recognizes Mandela’s “values and his dedication to the service of humanity” and acknowledging his contribution “to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world”.

The overarching objective of Nelson Mandela International Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. The idea is to do something that will benefit those around us on Nelson Mandela International Day as it was inspired by Mandela himself. He said: “It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.”

The Nelson Mandela International Day campaign asks that individuals, groups and corporates pledge 67 minutes of their time on 18 July, andevery day thereafter, to give back. It offers South Africans and the world an occasion to honour the ethos of the late former President Mandela.

Therefore Sarah Baartman District Municipality as part of an International community in the past years has committed to follow suit. It has also become a culture in the institution to celebrate the life of our first democratic president. This year Sarah Baartman District Municipality identified Koukamma Local Municipality to Co-Host the Nelson Mandela International Day in Ward 3 in particular Ravinia municipal area. Koukamma Municipality identified Fairland Early Childhood Development Centre (ECDC) popularly known as Crèches. They embarked on a clean-up campaign involving community members, Koukamma Municipal staff, Sarah Baartman Municipal staff and Councilors. Sarah Baartman District Municipal Executive Mayor (Cllr. K. Kekana) together with her Mayor Committee Members and the Meyor of Koukamma (Cllr. S. Vuso); local councilors held a TEA & CAKE session with elderly people from that community. The TEA & CAKE session rationale was to discuss the challenges and issues facing elderly people in general.