The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) marked Nelson Mandela Day with a meaningful 67 Minutes of Service campaign at the Itireleng Association for the Physically Disabled in Mohlakeng.

On July 17 and 18, volunteers rolled up their sleeves to renovate and uplift the centre.

The campaign aimed to restore dignity and improve living conditions for the centre’s 48 residents living with various disabilities.

Over the two days, NUM members, particularly those from the Women Structure, carried out extensive refurbishment work and general upgrades to the facility. NUM affiliates, along with representatives from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the ANC, were also present at the event.

The day concluded with a formal handover ceremony during which the newly renovated centre was officially presented to the community.

NUM Women Structure chairperson Magrette Gabanwele encouraged South Africans to continue making a difference beyond Mandela Day.

“Do not stop today to change the lives of others. The people that we are here for today are our own people. Mandela did not wait for perfect conditions to act, so let us not wait for people to call us, and let us be the hope of the hopeless,” she said.

President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, Zingiswa Losi, said the initiative embodied the true spirit of Madiba’s legacy.

“Madiba understood that freedom of our country could not be complete while workers are exploited, families are torn apart, and millions of South Africans are denied dignity,” she said.

Chairperson of Itireleng’s board, Andrew Louw, thanked the NUM for its intervention, saying the facility had been neglected for some time. He specifically commended the NUM Women Structure for selecting the centre and giving it a much-needed facelift.

In addition to the renovations, residents also received a range of donated items, including shopping vouchers, providing much-needed relief and support.