Joburg employees from across all regions and entities were out in force lifting spirits, uplifting communities and preserving the environment to mark Mandela Day.
On the day South Africa’s founding father and Statesman would have turned 100 years, employees took up the challenge to emulate his example by giving over 67 minutes of their time in service to the community.
Leading from the front, Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, started the day with the A Re Sebetseng clean-up campaign in Orlando West, supported by City entities such as Joburg Water, Joburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) and Pikitup. The mayor then rushed to Metro Centre to lead the clean-up of the Park Station precinct in the company of City Manager and in partnership with SABC Channel Africa. The mayor later joined elders such as Richard Branson, Koffi Annan and Graca Machel for the Walk Together march to the Constitution Hill.
Staff from Region A spent the day planting vegetable seeds, painting playground equipment and cleaning streets at the Ikageng crèche in Ivory Park
Region B cleaned the Brixton cemetery, whilst Region C used the day to refurbish ACTION For Blind and Disabled Children, an NGO based in the Roodepoort CBD.
The JMPD, led by Chief David Tembe, was in Orange Farm to lend a hand cleaning up Reitumetse Primary School for Mandela.
MMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba unveiled a new Mandela mural and planted 100 trees at Thokoza Park, where Madiba had planted a tree for his 90th birthday back in 2008. The JCPZ had invited 100 elderly residents to join in the celebrations.
JCPZ delivered gifts for the elderly at eMathonsini Old Age Home in Jabavu and also hosted kids from Kya Sands for a memorable day at the zoo and also
The Department of Communication and Marketing was out in Alexandra township, delivering gifts and sprucing up the Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home as Community Development was cleaning up the Hillbrow Recreation Centre.
“We are grateful to our staff members for heeding the call of A Re Sebetseng,” Mayor Mashaba told employees. “Your responsibility is not only to serve once a week, Nelson Mandela paid a great price so that we can give dignity to our people.”
