SOUTH-AFRICA/MANDELA DAY 67 blankets given away in Soweto as part of Mandela Day drive

Record ID: 146530

  • Title: SOUTH-AFRICA/MANDELA DAY 67 blankets given away in Soweto as part of Mandela Day drive
  • Date: 18th July 2015
  • Summary: SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 17, 2015) (REUTERS) VOLUNTEERS PACKING FOOD PARCELS BEANS AND RICE SACKS BEFORE PACKING VOLUNTEER CARRYING BAGS OF RICE VOLUNTEERS PREPARING TO PACK BEANS VOLUNTEERS PREPARING TO PACK RICE VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS PACKING PARCELS
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACHWQB7G2Q0EIMA1ND7V6MIZ1I
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Nelson Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, celebrated Mandela Day on Saturday (July 18) by hosting a group of 140 elderly citizens at the family restaurant in Soweto.
    The day was marked by giving away blankets and food parcels, which were donated during 67 minutes of public service to honor the 67 years of Mandela's humanitarian service.
    Madikizela-Mandela called for the day to better benefit the people and not to be used as a marketing campaign for businesses.
    "This day we will hear speeches from people we have never heard from, our townships are full of all our employers, owners of industry who will be painting schools and painting all over the show. How we wish, how we wish this day could be transformed into action, could be transformed into bettering the lives of our people. This is a day that we recommit ourselves and remember the values that brought about this day," she said.
    Others paid tribute to Mandela on this day of remembrance.
    "This day is very very special to me. You know always I used to say Tata Mandela he is the God we see. We are very proud of him, we love him even there in the grave," said Granny Duma, an elderly woman who attended the event.
    With the challenges South Africa faces, another woman, Gogo Futsana, said she believed the country had been better off under Mandela.
    "We miss that man, he did a lot for us. He made sure that white people respect us and our children can access white education. Everything was easy during his leadership but now things are falling apart. People are mismanaging everything," she said.
    Some 3 million children in South Africa suffer from household hunger, according to Stop Hunger Now, a non-governmental organisation that distributes food parcels.
    The head of Stop Hunger Now said it's a daily challenge for the organisation.
    "We not just doing it for 67 minutes or the fact that we are utilising the 67 minutes to actually have a lasting impact and that what is important. It is all very well and good to go in and do something for this day, then you forget about it. In our job we can't. We live the legacy on a daily basis. We have to make sure that those kids are fed daily," said Saira Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Stop Hunger Now.
    Various activities will mark Mandela Month in July as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president.
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