Mohono dedicates Mandela Day to the poor

13 Jul 2010

North West MEC for Human Settlements, Desbo Mohono, is dedicating this year’s Mandela week to address the housing needs of the poor in the rural parts of the province.

On Wednesday, 14 July 2010, Mohono will be part of a high-powered government delegation that will be in Cokonyane, Taung, to lay foundations for ten houses that will be built for the needy. Cokonyane, like many other villages of our province and country, is characterised by a high level of unemployment and poverty, and many families rely on social grants for income.

In her budget speech, MEC Mohono announced that her department will be in Cokonyane as part of celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy. She said then, “We will identify ten families living in mud houses and then lay foundations for proper houses to be built.” The Wednesday event, which starts at 9h00, will be a symbolic re-affirmation of government’s commitment to work in partnership with all sectors to address our development challenges.

This year’s celebrations coincide with the 20^th anniversary of the release of former President Nelson Mandela. Through Mandela week, government seeks to mobilise all sectors of our society and individual members of the community to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to help the poor and vulnerable members of society.

In 2009, the United Nations declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela Day”, in recognition of Madiba’s contribution to global peace and freedom. The resolution to commemorate Mandela’s “long-standing commitment to promoting conflict resolution, race relations, human rights, reconciliation and gender equality,” was adopted by the 192-member UN General Assembly.

Nelson Mandela Day seeks to advance the objective of making ours a caring, humane and compassionate society that responds to the plight of the poor. The department’s intervention in Cokonyane gives concrete expression to government’s commitment to change the lives of all our people for the better.

For the Department of Human Settlements and its stakeholders, the call to action on Nelson Mandela Day is for the people of our province and country to work selflessly for 67 minutes, without expecting any personal recognition or material rewards, to help ensure that all our people, especially the poorest of the poor, are enabled to taste the fruits of our freedom and democracy.

The 67 minutes symbolises 67 years of uninterrupted and selfless service to the people of South Africa and the world. The annual celebration of a Nelson Mandela Day was initiated in 2009 by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664 Campaign. The day seeks to entrench Mandela’s legacy through commemorating, remembering and living the values and principles epitomised by this international icon.

The Department of Human Settlements in the North West will be using Mandela week to work with other sectors of society in order to help increase access to housing for many of our people.

Enquiries:
Cornelius Tanana Monama
Cell: 073 975 7186 or 082 578 4063
Tel: 018-391 0420/21

Issued by: North West Human Settlements
13 Jul 2010