The Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Ms Nosipho Ngcaba, has today, 27 July 2016, led a Mandela Month event in Sekampaneng Village in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.

In tandem with the Mandela spirit of generosity and selflessness, Ms Ngcaba distributed toiletries, sanitary products as well as non-perishable items such as canned foods, clothing and shoes to the needy residents of Skampaneng Village in the Hammanskraal area. The products were voluntarily donated by the Department’s staff as part of their contribution to honour the legacy of the late former State President, Nelson Mandela.

The donation of products is in response to Government’s call for all South Africans to support Nelson Mandela Month through participation in activities under the theme:  "Take Action - Inspire Change - Make Every Day a Mandela Day". The theme encourages all citizens to give 67 minutes of their time to do good for others and take responsibility to ensure peaceful co-existence within communities.

Delivering her address, DG Ngcaba encouraged all the people present to take action that would impact other people’s lives, saying “each individual has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better and to build a country of our dreams.”

The visit by the Director-General today, followed that of Minister Edna Molewa last Friday in Gugulethu, where she donated, much needed school desks to two schools, school uniform to needy learners, walking sticks and blankets.

The annual International Nelson Mandela Day of humanitarian action in celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and legacy was started in 2008 to encourage individuals to change the world through voluntary community work.

The United Nations declared the 18th of July Nelson Mandela International Day in 2008. It is call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.

Issued by Department of Environmental Affairs