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MPUMALANGA PREMIER, REFILWE MTSHWENI-TSIPANE URGES COMMUNITIES TO EMBRACE THE VALUES OF MANDELA


18 July 2021

Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has urged communities to embrace the values espoused by former President, Mr Nelson Mandela. This as the country marks 18 July 2021 as the Mandela International Day, to honour the late Statesman.

The commemoration is marked amid the strict level 4 lockdown regulations aimed at reducing the global COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane says Mpumalanga and the rest of the country has reasons to commemorate Madiba in spite of the pandemic and other social ills. She says Mandela’s dedication of 67 years of his life in service to his people, should serve as a beacon of hope for all to emulate.

“The people of the Province of the rising sun join the rest of the country and indeed the world in commemorating the indomitable legacy of uTata Nelson Mandela. We urge the people of Mpumalanga to dedicate their 67 minutes of service to advocate for volunteerism, protection, donation of food and helping the needy. In this way, we would have kept Madiba’s legacy alive,” says the Premier.

It has been eight (8) years since Mandela passed on and the commemoration of his birthday has become a rallying point for South Africans and the world to rekindle the values he stood for, that of peace, reconciliation, unity and humanity. This year’s theme for the commemoration is: ‘One hand can feed another’. The commemoration comes few days after South Africa experienced a wave of vandalism, accompanied by violence, which left businesses and properties destroyed, while scores of people dead.

In reflecting on these events, Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane says the vandalism and destruction of business properties are a setback against the country’s pathways towards the realization of Mandela’s values. She says such barbaric acts would have caused Mandela to ask the question of whether South Africans have written the obituary of poverty, ignorance and sorrow. Despite this Mtshweni-Tsipane commended citizens who bravely protected businesses against looting and arson.

“Mandela would have said that it is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build our communities. We urge the people of Mpumalanga to continue to advocate against looting and wanton destruction of infrastructure. In this way, the legacy of Mandela will be kept alive. And that will be your 67 minutes as we commemorate Mandela and his values,” the Premier added.

ENDS…


Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government

Enquiries

Spokesperson: Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 082 967 2138
E-mail: mpolwenis@prem.mpg.gov.za

(A) Spokesperson: George Mthethwa
Tel: (013) 766 2242
Mobile: 083 302 2774
E-mail: gpmthethwa@mpg.gov.za




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