Diepsloot - Many may have celebrated it last week, but the Mandela Day activities continued on Monday as diplomats accredited to South Africa teamed up to bring smiles to hundreds of school children in Diepsloot township, north of Johannesburg.
About 50 ambassadors and high commissioners decided to heed the call by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to help a local school in the impoverished township.
Computers, printers, books, stationary, paint and gardening tools were donated to the Dipsloot Combined School, situated at the heart of the township. Airports Company South Africa donated 1500 pair of shoes to learners from poor backgrounds.
The school managed to achieve 97% matric pass rate last year with principal Noel Maringa telling his visitors today, he was aiming for 100% pass this year.
“We will use whatever has been donated to us today to maximise our potential because we believe we can achieve even greater things, there is no going down now but we aiming to top,” said Maringa.
The United Nations declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day to allow using the day to give back to their communities and helping the needy. South Africa has one of the largest representations of foreign missions in the world, second only to Washington.
Diepsloot has, however, been plagued by a spate of xenophobic attacks in recent past and officials said taking the diplomats there to mark Mandela Day might assist in changing the perception people have about foreign nationals.
“Our children from this community in particular that was ravaged by xenophobia can be able to realise that we are one people, we are one world that Madiba encouraged us to work together,” said Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.
“The one biggest advantage of the struggle against apartheid was the role of the international community, without the international solidarity, we would still be struggling. So we must not underestimate the role of the international community and embassies to advance and rebuild our nation,” said Peters.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane said sharing whatever little with the less fortunate was what Mandela stood for.
“This area is very unique and this school situated in Diepsloot, a largely depressed area, but they manage to get 97% matric pass rate. This is something not only to be celebrated but encouraged.
“We will continue to get our hands dirty working with our people to change the lives of South Africans because this is something that is close to Madiba’s heart. We are saying, through our diplomats, in the 19 years we have achieved so much and we will continue to work with the international community to achieve more.” – SAnews.gov.za
