Despite the darkness and misery of load shedding and problems with the Rand Water supply, Mandela Day offers a chance to honor the efforts that regular South Africans make to improve the lives of those in poor areas.
Cilliers Brink, the mayor of Tshwane, made this statement while taking time out of his hectic day yesterday to plant 67 spekboom trees at the Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre in Mamelodi. He praised the center for its helpful efforts and engaged with students on the value of protecting the environment. Later in the day, Brink visited Pat-rico Old Age Home in Hammanskraal Township, which houses around 100 senior citizens. There, he led stakeholders in handing over groceries and other items to assist the center in celebrating Mandela Day.
Pat-rico founder, Patricia Rikhotso, expressed gratitude for the generous gesture shown by Brink and his team.
While in Mamelodi, Brink responded to a question from those who wanted to know why he was preoccupied with charity work instead of attending to sewerage problems, power outages, and water shortages. He said, “Of course, there are urgent concerns, and service delivery flaws that need to be resolved. However, this is a crucial chance to highlight community efforts, NGOs, and civil society organizations, rather than just what the government is doing.”
He expressed delight in hearing that the center has a good relationship with the Gauteng provincial government, stating, “This center is doing amazing work.”
“Let’s use Madiba Day despite the gloom, the doom, load shedding, and water problems with Rand Water to celebrate the wonderful, vigorous, lively civil society that we have and the interests of organizations like these in our communities,” he concluded.
