Feature: South Africans mark Mandela Day by helping the poor

Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-18 23:05:16|Editor: yan
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CAPE TOWN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- South Africans on Tuesday marked the Nelson Mandela International Day by helping the poor and taking forward the fight against poverty.

Various social events were organized across the country with the aim of touching the lives of ordinary South Africans in general and the historically marginalised in particular.

These included donating blankets and food parcels to the poor, delivering books to libraries and visits to charity homes housing survivors of abuse, destitute mothers and their children.

The Nelson Mandela International Day, which falls on July 18, is celebrated across the globe in honor of late South African president Nelson Mandela's birthday.

The United Nations launched the day on July 18, 2009 in recognition of the lifelong struggle against injustice of Mandela, South Africa's first democratically elected president.

This year's Mandela Day is observed under the theme "Action Against Poverty."

South Africans are encouraged to engage in meaningful and constructive community work by dedicating themselves to improve the lives of poor people and uplift the lives of those in need, to build a united and more caring society for a better life.

Outside Parliament's Visitors' Centre and on the corner of Adderley and Wale Streets in central Cape Town, a group of politicians joined charity workers in delivering soup and sandwiches to the homeless.

Parliament helped set up several soup and sandwich stations in the city as part of activities to observe the Mandela Day.

"We should make every day a Mandela Day through our interactions with people and our environment," said Amanda Madikiza, who works for Parliament.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said, "The day, Madiba's birthday, should prompt us to realise that each of us can help to make our world a better place." Madiba is the nickname for Mandela.

Diana Yasmine, a 28-year-old charity worker, told Xinhua that she wanted to observe the Mandela Day by doing something for those in need.

"If every one is doing his or her own part in community work, people can live a better life,"she said while distributing food to homeless people at a food station in central Cape Town.

A man in his sixties said he became homeless after a recent fire destroyed his house.

"Today I have to get help from others, but tommorrow I may be able to help," the man said on condition of anonymity. "I hope every day is a Mandela Day," he added.

In Ekurhuleni near Pretoria, Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete interacted with senior citizens, talking about services available to them while donating blankets and food parcels.

"Mandela Day is a timely occasion for us to reflect on where we have come from, where we are now and what we must still do to address social injustice," Mbete said.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation took the opportunity to urge South Africans and those taking part in Mandela Day activities to continue with their efforts well beyond July 18 in the quest to make every day a Mandela Day.

"As we go out to plant gardens, build houses or feed pupils, we must know that it does not stop there. July 18 is the start of taking action, not the end. We want South Africans and people around the world to commit to long-term, sustainable projects that will tackle poverty," said Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang.

On the Mandela Day, millions of people in South Africa and across the world spend 67 minutes of their time cleaning up the environment and doing community work for the good of others.

The 67 minutes symbolize the 67 years that Mandela spent fighting for social justice to make the world a better place.

"Let us individually and collectively continue to make a difference in addressing the most pressing challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment," President Jacob Zuma said in a message marking the Mandela Day.

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