Pretoria - Gauteng Premier David Makhura has called on Gauteng residents to devote 67 minutes of their time to honour the legacy of the late former President Nelson Mandela by cleaning up their neighbourhoods.
“Clean living areas are closely tied to a healthy and dignified life. This is why we are encouraging our communities to take care of our environment and tidy the areas where they live,” said Premier Makhura, ahead of Mandela Day.
The province will celebrate the day under the theme, Clean and Green Gauteng for a Clean South Africa. It is in line with the call made by President Jacob Zuma during the State of the Nation Address, for a major clean-up of the country’s cities, town, townships, villages and schools - known as ‘Operation Clean Up for Madiba’.
The Gauteng Provincial Government and municipalities have planned a number of activities to enable ordinary people to take part in the cleaning of public places in honour of the late former President.
Premier Makhura also encouraged people to clean and green parks and open spaces and to curb the increasing scourge of illegal dumping.
The Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day celebrated on 18 July, which is Mandela's birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010.
The overarching objective of the day is to inspire individuals to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good.
Gauteng residents are urged to obtain information from their ward councillors on where they can go to participate in the “Clean and Green Gauteng for a clean South Africa” programmes.
Information can also be obtained from www.gautengonline.gov.za.
KZN activities
Meanwhile, KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and MEC for Finance Belinda Scott will on Friday clean up Durban to honour Madiba’s legacy.
Scott will be join Premier Mchunu in the morning, where they will pull up their sleeves sweeping and picking up dirt at Langalibalele, Retief, Church, Pietermaritz, and Lower Boshoff Streets.
Later on, Scott will join the local municipality in the cleaning up of illegal dumping sites at Ward 18 in France, Imbali.
The remier will later in the day deliver the Nelson Mandela Public Lecture at eMpangeni Town Hall. – SAnews.gov.za
