On a cold and gloomy day in Cape Town, Deputy Ministers in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli and Kenny Morolong brought heartwarming smiles to the faces of children at the John Pama Primary School, in Nyanga.

The Deputy Ministers celebrated Mandela Day – and did their 67 minutes for Mandela – by handing over much needed supplies to the school.

The supplies included exercise books, stationery, school shoes and uniforms, sanitary towels and a monetary gift.

Speaking to SAnews, Deputy Minister Mhlauli, who interacted warmly with the children, said it was clear to see that children still know Mandela and love who he was.

‘It’s been such a touching experience. When we asked the kids who Nelson Mandela is, one of the learners gave the most heartwarming answer. She said that he was our father and that’s really what Nelson Mandela symbolises. He’s the father of our nation, the father of our democracy.

‘Today we are not only celebrating his life and his contribution to the country but most importantly his contributi
on to the 30 years of democracy that we have today and we are so happy that we were able to take a page from his life.

‘We spent a little bit more than 67 minutes here with the kids really as a way of ensuring that his legacy continues even post his passing to build a better South Africa. We all know that he was one person who loved kids and we are happy that so many years after his passing, kids still love him as well,’ she said.

During the welcoming ceremony, the children gave a moving rendition of South Africa’s national anthem and performed a choral item calling on current Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to deal with crime in their neighbourhoods.

This, Deputy Minister Morolong said, was a moment for pause and sober reflection.

‘It’s important to commit ourselves to fighting crime all the time as it rears its ugly head to ensure that our kids live in a society that’s free of crime, to ensure that they receive the best education. In doing so, we will not just be honouring the life of Nelson Mandela; we wo
uld be appreciating the strides that have been made by his generation in defeating a system as brutal as Apartheid.

‘So this is an important day by all measures and we need to continue to celebrate it but also we need to celebrate it through deeds. And those deeds must not be limited to today only. We must extend them to our daily lives and ensure that…we give to the less privileged; we take care of those who are marginalised and we can build a country where all of us can enjoy our hard won freedom,’ Morolong said.

Source: South African Government News Agency