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On 18 July 2009, the international community will unite in celebration of the remarkable life of one of the most legendary icons of our time, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. During this momentous Nelson Mandela Day, which marks his 91st birthday, citizens of the world will be encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to do community work in celebration of the ubuntu values and principles that the first democratic President of South Africa epitomises.
Nelson Mandela Day is a celebration of Mandela's life, values and principles. It is also a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them. The 67 minutes reflects the 67 years of an uninterrupted and selfless service to the people of South Africa and the world in the course of his extraordinary life.
The annual celebration of the Nelson Mandela Day, an initiative of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the 46664 Campaign, is currently enjoying huge support among the international community.
In South Africa, President Jacob Zuma used his annual State of the National Address to appeal to all the people of South Africa to get actively involved in the celebration in their communities. He said: "His (Mandela's) values and his example of dedication to the service of humanity is a shining example in today's troubled world. Let us wholeheartedly support Nelson Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign".
Parliament has heeded the President's call and has over the past weeks engaged various stakeholders to ensure that every South African citizen lend a helping hand during Madiba's birthday. Hundreds of our Members of Parliament, members of the Executive and their departments, Parliament, civil society and non-governmental organisations have made a commitment to galvanise the people to partake in this meaningful contribution to humanity.
Under the theme: "Working Together for the Common Good of Our Nation", the Majority Party in Parliament will, in partnership with various stakeholders, exercise political oversight over the Executive to ensure that there is service delivery aimed at improving the quality of life of all South Africans.
Our activities during this Mandela Month will be informed by our commitment to the development of our diverse communities through promotion of social cohesion and nation building and meeting priorities announced by President Zuma in his State of the Nation Address.
Throughout this period of celebrating Mandela, our work will further be informed by the commitment to the concept of an activist Parliament, which puts the interest of all the people first and uncompromisingly perform its constitutional functions. An activist Parliament, we have said, must have MPs that use Parliamentary Constituency Offices as springboards for community work to ensure the speedy rollout of basic services to people by holding the Executive to account without fear or favour.
Our MPs will in this regard be expected to lead this campaign within their communities through constituency work-based programmes in emulation of Mandela's decades of uninterrupted noble service to humanity.
Events that will form part of the Nelson Mandela's celebrations includes a special joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, to debate on Mandela's illustrious legacy. The debate, scheduled for tomorrow (8 July) will be led by President Jacob Zuma.
Government's rural pilot project in Giyani, whose intention is to develop villages in the Greater Giyani Municipality through construction of shopping malls, internet cafes and development of agrarian reform programmes, will also form part of our area of focus during this celebration.
Leadership of both Parliament and the Executive will perform community work in the Eastern Cape on the 18 July, before addressing a mass Nelson Mandela Day rally in East London in the afternoon.
Since joining the ANC in 1942, Mandela has served as a true ambassador of the values and virtues championed by the organisation, which he advocated through his role in the advancement of a united South Africa that shares common progressive values as enshrined in the Freedom Charter.
President Zuma's call to action during the Nelson Mandela Day is therefore a further affirmation of the vision of the founding fathers and mothers of our nation manifested in the ubuntu values and principles championed by uTata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
As the ANC, we recommit ourselves during this momentous celebration of Mandela's 67 years of heroic struggles to continue advancing that which he and his forebears espoused for many years.
In this regard, we call on all South Africans to accept the challenge and be part of this international movement for the advancement of the good of humanity. Nelson Mandela spent 67 years of his life serving humanity - on 18 July let's emulate his exemplary legacy by dedicating at least 67 minutes of our time doing something good within our communities.