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People | 30 Jul 2015 | By Sun International

Celebrating Madiba: What Sun International Did with 67 Minutes for Mandela Day 2015

The recipients at Itekeng Home Based Care Centre | Photo by Sun International

Sun International helps many communities in need during the 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015 campaign.

With his charismatic warmth and broad smile, Nelson Mandela captured the hearts of people globally. Tata taught the world the spirit of Ubuntu through leading by example, and inspired by the generosity of his spirit, Mandela Day was launched on his birthday, 18 July, in 2009. Now an internationally celebrated day, people across South Africa and the world give up 67 minutes of their time to assist in addressing social injustices and becoming servant leaders.

On Mandela Day 2015, Sun International employees across South Africa walked in our hero’s footsteps by contributing in meaningful ways to various communities during their 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015.

Sun City spreads the warmth

A team from Sun City spent 18 July travelling to various local children’s charities in the North West Province’s Bojanala District to hand out blankets, clothing and food. As part of the resort’s Mandela Day 2015 initiative, children from Itekeng Home Based Care Centre in Phatsima Village; Godisanang Orphanage and Vulnerable Centre in Mafenya Village; and the Orphanage and Vulnerable Centre in Ledig Village were all smiles upon receiving the gifts.

More than 70 children from Borite Primary School in Mabele-a-Podi and Thari Mmelegi Orphanage in Rietspruit were wide-eyed with excitement when they found themselves sitting in Sun City’s Epic Cinema for screenings of the Minions movie, clutching popcorn, slush puppies and smarties.

To round off Mandela Day 2015 at Sun City, families, friends and children from local children’s charities enjoyed live entertainment and a variety of food stalls at a family event on the Cabanas Lawns.

Kindness and TLC from Carnival City

Maria Gaba’s Mpumelelo Day Care Centre in Windmill Park benefitted from Carnival City’s 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015. With a helping hand from the Afrisun Trust, a Carnival City team repaired and repainted the centre and took the time to spend some quality time with about 80 children. Ranging from babies to six years in age, the centre provides these little ones, who have been abused, abandoned or neglected, with food, shelter and essential care. With this in mind, Carnival City and the Afrisun Trust donated toys, blankets, groceries and other essential items on Mandela Day 2015.

In addition, a team of volunteers from Carnival City also visited the Tsakane Society for the Care of the Aged on 16 July, rolled up their sleeves and established a vegetable garden. The Tsakane Society for the Care of the Aged provides geriatric care for senior citizens of the underprivileged Tsakane area. This garden will supply the home with fresh vegetables for meal preparation for the elderly citizens in its care. The team also spent time repainting the home’s window frames as well as handing out warm blankets to each of the residents at the home.

Morula Casino shows love in action

Morula Casino spent more than 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015 handing out food parcels and cold drinks to orphans at Boitumelo Community Home Centre in Soshanguve. The Home was also in dire need of maintenance so volunteers got stuck in and erected a washing line, planted seedlings in the vegetable garden, welded steel bar gates, painted the home, fixed the access route and repaired the geyser. This was done in participation with Tshwane Emergency Services, Disaster Management, Department of Road and Storm Water, Public Works, local councilors and a representative from the Member of the Mayoral Committee Thembi Mabusela.

In the spirit of Ubuntu on Mandela Day 2015, necessities such as bed linen, chairs, cushions, toiletries, blankets and food were also donated to the home.

Generous gifts from The Table Bay Hotel

The Table Bay Hotel took their 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015 and made good use of the time by supporting several initiatives. The Table Bay Hotel team visited the Friends of Valkenberg Trust to donate linen and assisted with a few tasks before heading to Somerset Hospital to deliver food parcels and toiletries for mothers and children. What’s more, The Table Bay Hotel donated soup ingredients to the value of R5000 as well as 300 rolls to the Zomato Soup Kitchen. What a great way to spend Mandela Day 2015!

The Maslow spreads joy through a pop-up soup kitchen

The Alexandra Health Centre and University Clinic is a vital beacon of hope for the community of Alexandria. It caters for an impoverished community of around 700 000 people and to do so, it relies heavily on philanthropic funding. To support them, chefs from The Maslow donated their 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015 by visiting the clinic and applying their skills at a pop up soup kitchen.

Flamingo Casino brings hope to The Hospice Association of Kimberley

In partnership with the Elite Rebels Biker Club and RunWalk for Life, Flamingo Casino spent weeks preparing for the 2015 Flamingo Casino Winter Knights initiative which took place on Mandela Day 2015. The team collected clothing, blankets and foodstuffs for The Hospice Association of Kimberley and hosted a day of fun family activities at Flamingo Casino on 18 July, spending their 67 minutes for Mandela Day 2015 aiding those in need of care at hospice.