Dr. Naledi Pandor, Minister of the Department of Worldwide Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), has praised the international community for their assistance on Mandela Day.
On Monday, Pandor participated in 67 minutes of community service at Leratong Hospice in Atteridgeville to commemorate the annual Nelson Mandela International Day.
She was joined by members of the diplomatic community and DIRCO workers.
On July 18, Nelson Mandela International Day, often known as Mandela Day, is observed by numerous organisations both domestically and internationally.
She told the Ambassadors, “We can’t thank you enough for your commitment and kindness to many community organisations in South Africa.”
We are so glad that on this day, on this Nelson Mandela Day, you always join us.
The hospice received numerous donations, including R500 000 in cash from the United Arab Emirates as well as blankets, portable radios, food, clothing, gas stoves, and other items.
“I want to thank you for your support and contribution. The community, which holds Nelson Mandela, his work, and memory in the highest regard, is overjoyed to see this example of international collaboration and cooperation between South Africa and representatives from many nations. I am incredibly grateful for this.
Leratong Hospice is an inpatient facility that provides all of its patients with holistic, all-encompassing care, support-palliative care, as well as support for their families.
It provides services to Atteridgeville, Saulsville, the surrounding slum areas, Lotus-Gardens, Pretoria West, Laudium, Brits, Hartbeespoort, and neighbouring towns.
Pandor emphasised to the neighbourhood that improving the lives of others does not require financial means.
“Whether you’re wealthy or not, Nelson Mandela was speaking to each and every one of us. He was telling us that you don’t need a lot of money to help people.
He was showing us how every one of us can make a difference by doing good deeds for kids or an old person for just an hour and seven minutes.
She also disproved the idea that kindness and generosity were difficult virtues and exhorted people to provide a hand to one another for the benefit of their neighbourhood.
“Mandela thought that each of us may contribute. He did not suggest that on this day, Members of Parliament should take action, regardless of who you are, she emphasised.
We are all on the same footing today. While others will read to youngsters and others will make sure the windows are clean, I will be peeling potatoes.
She also urged the hospice staff to keep up the difficult task and urged the public to support and safeguard the workers.
Mandela firmly felt that if you repeat that action on July 18 every year, eventually you’ll do it daily.