Mandela Day – It’s in our hands now

The North Coast came alive with compassion, empathy and love last Friday, as our small part of the world did their bit for International Mandela Day.

Businesses, schools, hospitals and even some caring individuals honoured former South African president Nelson Mandela on the first birthday since his death.

There was everything from soup drives, to handing out cupcakes, to planting trees to painting walls as people dug deep into their hearts, heeding Madiba’s words: “it’s in your hands now.”

The North Coast Courier spent its 67 minutes for Mandela Day with the wonderful children and volunteers of Nkobongo Resource Centre.

When staff arrived laden with sandwiches and other yummy treats, they found the centre had not been idle for the day – they had cleaned up a stream and bushes in their area for their 67 minutes, with help of Cllr Thulani Ntuli.

Volunteer Vusi Macaluvi (20) said they have been reporting the issue to KwaDukuza municipality and it was not cleaned. “So instead of waiting, we decided to clean it ourselves,” he said.

The Courier staff played games with the children, including an exciting treasure hunt through the newspaper. At the centre we met Sthandiwe Jali (18) who matriculated last year from Nonhlevu Secondary school in Groutville. She lives with her grandmother who is unemployed, therefore she can not afford her tertiary education.

“I would like to be a traffic officer or a doctor. Financial problems are stopping me from achieving my goal,” said Jali.

Centre manager Zamo Mngadi said the centre cannot afford to send Jali to a tertiary institution but would be grateful if anyone could help her.
“She is so useful in this centre, helping the younger kids on computer classes and brilliant in sport,” said Mngadi.