TOURISM NEWS Inspiring change on Mandela Day
International Nelson Mandela Day 2011 was launched in Johannesburg recently, with a panel of tertiary students at the event expressing their views on what the celebration means to them. The UN-recognised day was launched at the premises of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, on 23 May. Mandela Day was first introduced on 18 July 2009, Mandela’s birthday, to encourage people to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to make the world a better place. The date was internationally recognised by the UN in November of the same year. The slogan for this year’s day is “Take Action. Inspire Change. Make Every Day a Mandela Day.” ‘See you in July’ The launch kicked off with rapper JR’s new song dedicated to Mandela Day, “See you in July”. The number is a remake of the song of the same title made famous by Paul Hardcastle and the Jazzmasters. Sello Hatang, the foundation’s spokesperson, initiated a discussion with the panel of eight tertiary students. He asked them to speak about Mandela, express their thoughts on the day and how it should be celebrated. The panel included Raymond Ntlozi and Osmond Mloni from Pretoria University; Comfort Ndala from the Tshwane University of Technology and Morris Mchachi from the University of Johannesburg. Mandela’s grandson, Luvuyo Mandela, said: “As a family we have always celebrated the birthday at our hometown of Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, by making food parcels so we can distribute to those less fortunate.” Offering service, not seeking it Ntlozi said: “Mandela has been a pillar of strength for the youth of South Africa and I celebrate Mandela Day daily through my various community activities.” Ntlozi volunteers at a children’s home in Zuurbekom, southwest Johannesburg, and helps raise funds for the institution. Mloni added: “I hope everyone can make every day a Mandela Day by just learning to say please and thank you as a sign of appreciation to their fellow human beings.” He described Mandela as a servant and leader whose life narration shows a character full of courage and conviction. He said there was no better way to celebrate such an iconic character than being of service to others – as opposed to seeking service.
as five minutes out of their lives for this activity. On 20 June, a panel of public figures will announce how they plan to celebrate Mandela Day. Breadline Africa, a South African-based NGO, has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the NYK Helping Hand Scheme to provide a mobile library to a primary school in each of the nine provinces of South Africa as part of this year’s Mandela Day celebrations. Breadline Africa supplies disadvantaged communities with shipping containers, which are then converted into mini feeding stations, clinics or libraries. NYK is the international shipping company which provides the containers. Through the scheme, it identifies a charity of its choice to support each year. This year, NYK contributed R500 000 (US$71 000) to the project for Mandela Day. Each library container costs nearly R90 000 ($12 000) to convert and renovate. Tim Smith, director of Breadline Africa, said: “We buy sturdy, water-tight containers at a low cost and transform them into mobile structures, which we can use to feed, educate or use as a clinic. Our projects try to establish a level of self-sustainability within the community.” First published by MediaClubSouthAfrica.com – get free high-resolution photos and professional feature articles from Brand South Africa’s media service.
Cape Town a top 15 bicycle-friendly city
Cape Town is one of the 15 most bike-friendly destinations in the world, according to a CNN feature on 15 cities around the world “where drivers use all five fingers when they wave at you”. African cities “aren’t the first that spring to mind for bike friendliness, but Cape Town is doing its best to change that,” CNN noted in an article earlier this month featuring South Africa’s “Mother City” among the likes of Amsterdam and Barcelona in Eu-
rope, Chicago and San Francisco in North America, and Beijing and Bogot בin “Elsewhere”. “The South African hub is committed to creating cycling lanes, dedicated bike parking and public commuter showers,” CNN said. Cape Town Partnership MD BulelwaMakalimaNgewana said that being compared to “benchmark pedestrian and bike-friendly cities such as Berlin, Paris, Chicago and Barcelona is very encouraging. Lead SA, an initiative that encourages South Africans to celebrate the country’s achievements while taking responsibility for its problems, said the CNN mention was recognition of Cape Town’s commitment to making cycling lanes efficient and safe in order “to assist in alleviating congestion and pollution by cars. “Less cars and more convenient, eco-friendly access to the city is key to making Cape Town a more liveable city,” Lead SA said in a statement last week. “What Capetonians should also know is that the new MyCiti buses operating in various areas from Tableview and within Cape Town allow cyclists to take their bikes on board with them and also to leave them at secure lock-up points close to the stations.” According to Lead SA, Cape Town’s new cycling lanes mirror the MyCiti bus routes, by running to the right of the existing bus lanes along the northern route, which includes Blaauwberg, Table View and Milnerton. The cycling lanes are three metres wide and evenly paved for a smooth ride. The paved lane stretches for 16 kilometres. There are numerous companies that rent out bicycles in Cape Town, such as ByBike, and various guided bicycle tours are also on offer. The Bicycle Empowerment Network and Vamos Cycling Tour are two companies offering two-wheeled tours through the city’s townships. SAinfo reporter
Mandela Mondays Starting in June, various events will take place as part of the Mandela Day celebrations. From 6 June, people will be encouraged to mark Mandela Mondays by doing something worthy for the next individual, the community or the environment in which they live. People could take as little
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