SAEON devotes 67+ minutes to community service on Mandela Day

A grade 8 learner from Sophumelela Secondary School thanks the speakers for the opportunity to learn more about the legacy of an icon such as Madiba within the context of marine sciences (Picture: Antony Van Dalsen) Maxwell Moss, who is paralysed from his shoulders down to his toes, encouraged the learners to take advantage of their education (Picture: Antony Van Dalsen) SAEON’s Thomas Mtontsi and Phumeza Sonqela of DAFF add their handprints to the Madiba banners (Picture: Antony Van Dalsen) The learners try their hand at making Madiba banners (Picture: Antony Van Dalsen)

Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated annually on 18 July, thanks to the United Nations who adopted Nelson Mandela International Day as a global humanitarian occasion. To commemorate this day, people are asked to donate 67 minutes of their time to service their communities.

On 15 July 2010, the Fisheries branch (previously known as Marine and Coastal Management) of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) held a successful and memorable event for school learners, sponsored by SAEON’s Egagasini Node.

The event was packed with fun-filled activities, educational programmes as well as remembrances of South Africa’s very own Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, also known as Madiba, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

The programme was held at the South African Naval Museum in Simon’s Town for 60 grade 8 learners from Sophumelela Secondary School, one of the schools in the SAEON cluster. Not only were the learners taken on a tour of the museum, but they were also exposed to how the South African seas, coastline and natural marine resources are protected.

After the learners were welcomed by the Programme Director, Alieya Haider from the DAFF communications team, Thomas Mtontsi, Education Outreach Officer of the SAEON Egagasini Node interacted with the learners and tested their understanding of Mandela Day. Thomas posed questions to them and admitted to being astounded at the depth of their knowledge about Madiba — from this remarkable man’s 27 years of imprisonment on Robben Island to his release.

Next on the programme was keynote speaker Maxwell Moss, a political veteran who has had the unique experience of interacting with Nelson Mandela before and during his release. Maxwell was a member of parliament for about 10 years and currently serves as Chairperson of the West Coast Fisheries Committee.

The learners were intrigued with what he had to say about Madiba. Maxwell, who is paralysed from his shoulders down to his toes as a result of a car accident, also spoke about his disability. He encouraged the learners to take advantage of their education and told them that he would follow up with them in five years’ time to check on their progress. It soon became clear that the learners saw Maxwell as a mentor they could look up to.

Following Maxwell’s address, the learners were shown how to make Madiba banners displaying messages and handprints. They were delighted to see the end products. Each learner was then presented with a special gift as well as refreshments.