July is Nelson Mandela Month, a time when people around the world celebrate the life of our founding President, Nelson Mandela, by demonstrating acts of kindness to those who are less fortunate.
As part of Mandela Month, Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola encouraged vulnerable children in Modimolle, Limpopo Province, to pursue their dreams and not let their background determine their destiny.
Government called on South Africans to use Nelson Mandela Day to lend a hand to those in need as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Mandela Day (18 July 2020), Minister Lamola spent his 67 minutes with children at Dira o Direlwe Drop Centre in Modimolle. The Minister visited the Centre, and donated food parcels and face masks to vulnerable children staying there. Mandela Day is a global call to action to celebrate the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact in someone’s life. Dira o Direlwe is a non-governmental organisation that accommodates orphan, poor and vulnerable children.
During his interaction with the kids, Minister Lamola encouraged them to pursue their dreams and told them that their underprivileged background should never determine their destiny and that they can become whoever they want to be in life. “You must be the prophet of your dreams. You can be the next prominent soccer player or a great singer. What you have to know is that it does not matter where you come from, but make sure you don’t involve yourself in criminal activities because that will lead you astray,” he said. The Minister implored the children to wear the face masks provided to protect them from contracting the coronavirus, and to help the effort to curb rapid spread of the virus.
Correctional Services Area Commissioner of Polokwane, Ms Lydia Mamabolo promised the management of Dira o Direlwe Centre that the Department will also help to clean the yard, as well as renovate the kitchen and playground. “It takes a village to raise a child, and we therefore need to go back to basics. When we grew up, we used to know that your child is my child. Let’s bring back that spirit of Ubuntu, and prevent the suffering of kids by playing our rightful parental roles in our respective communities,” she said.
The Minister also visited Modimolle Correctional Centre, where he assessed the state of readiness of their Covid-19 isolation and quarantine facility. He commended the Region’s state of preparedness and prevention and containment measures put in place to halt the spread of the coronavirus.