AS a destination named after the global icon Madiba, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) hoisted a special edition Nelson Mandela centenary flag at the Donkin Reserve on Mandela Day (18 July 2018) which happens to be Madiba’s 100th birthday.
“It is an honour for us to carry the name of the great Tata Madiba, and an even bigger honour to raise the centenary flag on Mandela Day for the very first time,” said NMBT CEO Ms Mandlakazi Skefile.
“Our aim is to promote the spirit of kindness and humanity amongst our locals and visitors, whilst setting the tone for all the Mandela Day initiatives taking place around Nelson Mandela Bay today.”
Mandela flag hoisted every Friday
The celebration also introduced the start of Mandela Fridays, where the centenary flag will be raised every Friday thereafter (weather permitting).
This is with the aim of uniting locals and visitors in the spirit of humanity that Madiba stood for. It is also to serve as a reminder to do something good and initiate a culture of kindness and service to humanity.
Commenting on the continued efforts to carry out the legacy of Madiba, Skefile said: “The Mandela centenary does not stop after Mandela Day. In fact, our efforts will continue throughout this year with the introduction of Mandela Fridays.
“This is a great milestone and should be celebrated well beyond Mandela Day.”
The event also served as a platform to mobilise participation and support for the Trek4Mandela initiative and to bid NMB born Andisa Liba farewell as she joins a special team of climbers that will summit Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Mandela Day and the Caring For Girls Foundation. This is an initiative that raises funds to supply sanitary towels to approximately 500 000 underprivileged school girls around the country.
Stats have revealed that most impoverished girls miss up to 50 days of school annually owing to menstrual related challenges.
-REPORTER
