The department hosted a handing over of certificate ceremony to APTCoD leaners during the Youth month. The event was held in Mthatha at the Mandela Museum. It was my first time at Museum and I was so moved by what I saw in how Mandela and others sacrificed their lives, careers and time with their loved ones as most of them died in the struggle fighting for the freedom some of us enjoy today.

I asked myself so many questions: if I  was  one of them,  would I have taken the  time and the strides to benefit others to be free from the Apartheid ?I was left wondering If I would have been brave or truthful to the struggle, I asked myself?

This year as we begin the Mandela month, the 18th of July being Tata Mandela’s birthday, we are celebrating his Centenary at Mvezo Village as July was declared International Mandela Day by the UN. Madiba would have turned 100 this year.

This year’s theme “Be the Legacy, find the Madiba in You”. We must ask ourselves, look at where we are today and ask “How can we make a difference, how do we use Mandela values to bring change in the workplace, community and at home to better the lives of others”.

As a nation we remain indebted to Mandela for his sacrifices and selfless contribution to humanity. In the spirit of the “Living legacy” and “Ubuntu” we need to ask ourselves what can we do to bring change in people lives.

 “What counts in life is not the mere fact we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” said Nelson Mandela

The message behind Mandela day is very simple: Everyone has the ability and responsibility to change the world for the better.

If each of us heeds the call to simply do something good every day, we can live Nelson Mandela legacy and help build the country of our future generation.

# Take Action # Inspire Change # Make every day a Mandela Day

By Sipokazi Ncanywa