South Africans every year on 18 July 2014, together with the international community honour our former president and international icon Tata Nelson Mandela. The government calls on all South Africans to spend 67 minutes of their time serving the community and contributing towards building a better society. The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) has organised a programme of activities for Mandela Day. The theme for this year’s Mandela Day is “Dedicate 67 minutes To Clean South Africa”.

This campaign provides an opportunity for everyone to respond to the President’s call to action by participating in activities to clean up and beautify every part of South Africa. “Let us begin planning for a major clean-up of our cities, town, township, villages, and schools; and beautify every part of our country” said President Jacob Zuma.

The Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with the City of Tshwane along with other government departments will embark on a cleaning awareness campaign by collecting litter around Sunnyside in Pretoria. The targeted streets are Steve Biko, Troye, Hamilton, Cilliers, Leyds, Bourke and Wessels Streets. This campaign will culminate with a formal programme at MediClinic Heart Hospital where participating departments will outline and promote their programme of activities as part of the clean-up campaign. The Director General of the Department of Arts and Culture, Mr Sibusiso Xaba, will give a keynote address on this occasion.  

This call is directed by the theme of the current term of government, Together We Move South Africa Forward. It asks citizens to lend a hand and play their part in building a cleaner South Africa.

Let’s make South Africa a better place to live in, for ourselves and future generations.

Members of the media are invited.

The campaign is scheduled as follows:

Date    :           11 July 2014                                                                                                     

Time    :           12:00                                                                                                        

Venue :           MediClinic Heart Hospital, Pretoria

NB: Collecting of litter starts at 10h00 from Cnr Stanza Bopape and Steve Biko

Media enquiries: Sandile Memela: 082 800 3750;    

                          Lisa Combrinck: 082 821 4886