On Sunday, 18 July iLembe joined the rest of South Africa in celebrating Mandela Day. The Mandela Day campaign encourages people from all walks of life to spend 67 minutes of their time to help those less fortunate and in need than they are. The 67 minutes symbolically represents the number of years Mandela spent fighting for human rights and the abolition of apartheid.

iLembe District Municipality Mayor Welcome Mdabe led a delegation from the iLembe District including the MEC for Human Settlements, Maggie Govender, Mayors from local municipalities, councillors, the Municipal Manager , Mike Newton and the CEO of Enterprise iLembe Kanyi Gasa in a number of programmes that were planned for the day.

The highlight of the day was when street children, elderly and the disabled were invited to a sumptuous breakfast at the eBandla Hotel in Ballito. Some had never been into or near a hotel before, others were excited about the bowl of cereal placed before them. This was indeed a unforgettable experience. Children were also given T Shirts and caps as a remembrance of the day sponsored by Enterprise iLembe.

Kanyi Gasa, CEO of Enterprise iLembe said that iLembe wanted to do something for the community that would have a meaningful impact. She stressed however that as citizens of this beautiful country we should make everyday Mandela Day and should endeavour to always think of those less fortunate than ourselves, it is so easy to put a smile on someone’s face with so little effort.

The breakfast was followed by trips to Mandeni, Groutville and Maphumulo where building materials, food parcels, blankets and clothes were handed out to the needy. The highlight being the handing over of a much needed home to a blind gogo in the community.

The delegation also helped to paint some classrooms at the Sikhuthele Secondary School in Mandeni.