The 2023 edition of the Nelson Mandela International Day will remain engraved in the minds of pupils at Clewer Early Childhood Development Centre, at KwaMthunzi-Vilakazi, formerly Clewer, just outside eMalahleni, following a learning changing public-private partnership donations to the Centre by Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Ms Nompumelelo Hlophe.
Through a partnership with the Emalahleni Local Municipality, the Elandsfontein Colliery, the Mpumalanga Provincial Treasury, and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, MEC Hlophe unveiled a parameter wall which was recently constructed by Elandsfontein Colliery, as a measure to protect the children who used to play on an unprotected and unguarded field. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism has also committed to install a sliding gate at the ECD Centre, and will further donate a generator to the Centre which will come in handy during loadshedding.
Speaking during the Nelson Mandela International Day commemoration event at the ECD Centre, Hlophe said “Our collective decision, as the Provincial Government, the Municipality and the Elandsfontein Colliery to select and to visit Clewer Primary and ECD Centre, was therefore, not a coincidence, but our deliberate resolve to lend-a-hand in shaping the future of our children. Indeed, any society that does not invest in the future of its children is doomed; it is not going anywhere.
“We express our appreciation to the Elandsfontein Colliery, for constructing a parameter wall around the ECD, which will keep our children safe and protected”, indicated the MEC.
MEC Hlophe, accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Councillor Leah Mabuza, further handed-over a gas stove and cylinder, a refrigerator, a sandpit and a jungle gym to the ECD Centre, which were donated by the Mpumalanga Provincial Treasury.
The Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual global event taking place on Madiba’s birthday, 18 July, in recognition of Madiba’s selfless contribution to humanity. The day was declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Nelson Mandela international Day held on 18 July 2020. On 18 July, countries around the world pay homage to Nelson Mandela for his indelible contribution to the fight against the obnoxious apartheid regime, and his undertakings towards establishing a multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Individuals are also invited to play their part by making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
“Former President Nelson Mandela believed that the future of any country is in its children; he believed in investing in the future of our children; hence we choose to do the same in this school today. We are here to lend-a-helping hand to the Clewer ECD, after realising their needs, so that we can safeguard and protect our future generation”, explained a euphoric Ms. Hlophe.
The MEC concluded by urging participants to play their part as well, by lending-a-hand to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate during Mandela Day.
Private Bag X11215
013 766 4004
013 766 4616
