Mahikeng
- Nelson Mandela’s life has been celebrated through work, an
activity that is an element of the late former statesman’s ethos,
says Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We’ve
had the most wonderful Mandela Day. We’ve been able to celebrate our
national icon’s birthday with a lot of community work and activitites,” he
said on Friday.
Today,
the world marks Nelson Mandela Day, which falls on the late statesman’s
birthday.
The
Deputy President -- together with Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs (Cogta) Minister Pravin Gordhan, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula
Mokonyane as well as North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo -- rolled up his
sleeves in honour of Madiba.
Earlier
today, the delegation visited the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, where they
painted a room. Afterwards, they received a machine to repair cataracts, which
was donated to the hospital.
Following
the hospital visit, the delegation took to the streets of the CBD, where they
visited two taxi ranks to the delight of locals, who lined the streets and took
photos of the delegation as they walked by with black plastic bags.
The
delegation stopped and talked to shop owners and street vendors along their
walk.
“We
cleaned up at the taxi rank and interacted with many of our people, who were
also participating in the great clean-up of Mafikeng,” Deputy Ramaphosa
said.
One of
the workers, Thando Sehloho, said it was impressive to see the delegation get
down to work.
While
ordinary citizens looked on, the delegation also repaired potholes with the aid
of a machine. They then visited Montshioa township.
Clearing
the sanitation backlog
“The
most exciting part of the day was going into the township and going to repair
water leakages in a few of the houses. The most important was to see how young
people - women and men - are now taking up plumbing and artisan type jobs, and
they’re repairing leaking taps,” the Deputy President said as he spoke from
outside one of the houses in the township.
Minister
Mokonyane said she will soon launch a “mega” project of training more plumbers,
particularly drawing from the youth, to repair leaking taps and ensure that
sanitation blockages are done away with.
She was
happy to see young women working as plumbers, such as her namesake Nomvula, who
is a cadet working as a plumber.
“Women
have arrived and not only in politics,” she said.
Asked
how he felt about the country commemorating the day for the first time without
Madiba, Deputy President Ramaphosa said: “This is truly a special one because
on this day, we have in many ways demonstrated that we are ready, willing and
prepared to take his legacy forward.
“This
is how we live Nelson Mandela’s legacy of being a disciplined people, a people
who want to take our country forward. This is what Nelson Mandela was all
about. We are pleased and proud that we’ve started a journey of remembering him
actively.”
Minister
Gordhan said today’s activities were helpful for him in his new portfolio.
“It was
useful to see how municipalities work. The municipal space is a space where
business and life happen. It is important that every municipality
must deliver basic services to every citizen,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
