The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will be celebrating Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, through various activations and campaigns to mark the international icon’s 95th birthday…
In partnership with J4Joy Foundation and Umhlobo Wenene FM, SABC has been involved in the reconstruction of Mpako Junior Secondary School in Mqanduli Village near Umthatha, Eastern Cape. The school is now complete and will be handed-over on 17 July 2013 as part of the Mandela Day celebrations. The public service broadcaster will also hand over a house to a destitute family in the area.
Meanwhile, SABC radio station Lotus FM has been collecting school shoes and raincoats in aid of underprivileged children. Lotus FM will host a telethon to collect as many school shoes and raincoats as possible on Mandela Day. All staff, listeners and viewers are encouraged to come down to the SABC KZN offices (100 Old Fort Road) to dedicate 67 minutes by calling friends, family and corporate companies to donate towards this worthy cause. All raincoats and school shoes donated on Mandela Day will be distributed as part of Lotus FM’s Warm Hearts campaign.
“Your gift will help us to realise Mandela’s legacy,’ says station manager Alvin Pillay. “If you’d like to donate school shoes and rain coats in honour of Madiba’s Legacy, dedicate 67 minutes by purchasing these gifts and drop them off at the SABC KZN Office – or give us a call on 031 362 5444 to register to be part of the telethon.’
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago adds: “The SABC is honoured to be associated and to celebrate the 95th birthday of South Africa’s World Statesman and the icon of our democracy. We believe that being involved in such activities is in keeping with the legacy of our former President Nelson Mandela through the restoration of human dignity for all South Africans. SABC News has already changed the lives of many South Africans and its continuing to do so through its TOUCHING LIVES initiative’.
Other SABC activities lined up for the Mandela Day are as follows:
Munghana Lonene FM will hand-over a house on Mandela International Day. The station has made it a practice to make this a month for giving and making a difference in the lives of our communities. Munghana Lonene FM partners with different organisations or individuals in building houses (each year) for needy families among other activities. On 18 July the station will hand-over a house to a child headed family in Botsoleni in the Malamulele area. The father died some time ago followed by the mother who got struck by lightning late last year leaving four kids to fend for themselves. The summer rains demolished one mud hut they used as their bedroom leaving one now used as both a kitchen and a bedroom.
Munghana Lonene FM is partnering with Botsoleni local church under the leadership of pastor Malungani (who is a religious contributor to the station).
“Munghana Lonene fm has since 2009 built and handed over more than 15 houses to the needy. We will continue to work very closely with business people, the churches and communities on this worthy cause,’ comments Munghana Lonene fm station manager, James Shikwambana.
Ikwekwezi FM:
- On 16th July – School uniform donation in Witbank
- 18th July – School uniform donation & 67 minutes at an Orphanage Home – Witbank
- 31st July 2013 – the station will donate old SABC computers to identified charity
Umhlobo Wenene FM:
- 17 July – Official handover of a school that has been revamped in Mpako Village outside Mthatha. Joint venture with J4Joy Foundation
- 18 July – Official opening of the Mvezo Bridge
- 18 July – Painting of a school for the physically disabled – Thembalethu School in Gugulethu Cape Town
- 18 July – Painting of Entokozweni Centre in Alexandra – Gym that Tata Mandela used during his sporting years
Phalaphala FM:
Phalaphala FM in partnership with Cancer Association of South Africa, Sialom Hospital will have the following activates happening on Mandela Day:
- Cleaning, de-bushing, washing of windows, mopping of corridors
- Screening for prostrate and cervical cancer
- Screening for HIV and Aids
- Test for none commutable disease
- Entertainment by artist at Psychiatric ward
SABC2:
SABC 2 will assist a school in the East Rand, Winile Secondary School, which is in dire need of an intervention. The staff and channel icons will spend the day at the school giving a hand. The channel has also partnered with Ekurhuleni Municipality and Awesome Adventures for the “Trek 4 Mandela’ adventure. 3 trekkers led by Sibusiso Vilane (the only South African who has climbed all of the world’s peaks, acknowledged by the Queen of England and awarded “The order of Ikamanga’ by Thabo Mbeki), will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro from 12 to 18 July in honour of Madiba Day as well as raising funds for two million girls with sanitary products challenges. The climbers will in the end mount the SA flag at the peak of Kilimanjaro as an honour to Madiba and South Africa.
Programmes have been packaged on SABC1, 2 and 3 including other SABC Radio Stations to support and honour 67 Minutes of Mandela Day.
