Brand SA backs Mandela Day

Give your 67 minutes on Nelson Mandela Day, and then do it every day. Through small individual changes, we can build the kind of country we would like, says Brand South Africa.
BRAND South Africa has thrown its weight behind the Nelson Mandela Day initiative, noting that Mandela’s ethos and legacy epitomises what it aspires to achieve through its work.

MadibaPlay Your Part honours Madiba's philosophy of selflessness (Photo: Nelson Mandela Foundation)Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton on 13 July, Brand South Africa’schief executive officer, Miller Matola, said the philosophy of Nelson Mandela Day dovetailed well with its newly launched campaign, Play Your Part. The campaign encouraged everyone to live a better life, undertaking humanitarian initiatives in an effort to build a socially cohesive country.

Nelson Mandela Day, an international call to action, is a day on which ordinary people are urged to give 67 minutes of their time on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday, to a humanitarian activity for the betterment of society. The 67 minutes symbolise the 67 years Mandela spent fighting for non-racialism, reconciliation, conflict resolution and equal human rights.

It is recognised and endorsed by the United Nations.

Matola said Play Your Part was designed to inspire South Africans to dedicate their time, money and skills to improving the country for all who lived in it. It was aimed at everyone, from civil society organisations to the corporate sector, individuals and the government.

“It is our belief that the values that South Africa espouses are consistent with what Nelson Mandela stands for. We need to be able to inspire South Africans to continue with the same spirit and on the same path and play their part in bettering the country. It is by such small leaps that we can make a difference in building the kind of country that Nelson Mandela envisioned.”

He encouraged everyone to do something for the good of society on 18 July, in paying homage to Mandela, who turns 93 this year.

Mandela’s legacy and ethos was important for the whole country, and not just for Brand South Africa. “It carries the real values of what this nation should be about and for us it sets an example,” he said.

There was a synergy between Play Your Part and Nelson Mandela Day in that both said every South African should play a role in ensuring that “we have the kind of country envisioned in the constitution”.

He said Play Your Part encouraged South Africans to sustain the momentum of Nelson Mandela Day, such that it became a daily event. “It is important that we all contribute towards making a difference through active citizenship wherever we are,” said Matola.

The Play Your Part website reads: “Play your part in giving someone a helping hand, donating time and resources, providing the know-how to start a business or an opportunity to kick start a career. We all have our part to play, big or small. Play your part today and let us drive this initiative forward into the bright, promising future of South Africa our land.”