IMATU CELEBRATES MANDELA DAY
The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) will be joining fellow South Africans in celebrating Mandela Day tomorrow.
“Each year we are reminded of the 67 years of his life that the late Nelson Mandela gave fighting for the rights of humanity, equality, justice and democracy all South Africans enjoy today. We are pleased, especially on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, to be one of many organisations and individuals donating 67 minutes of our time or resources to make a difference in the lives of others. As a union representing local government employees throughout South Africa, we take pride in contributing towards positive change within our local communities,” explained IMATU General Secretary, Johan Koen.
The IMATU National Office will be assisting in the building of a permanent classroom for the foundation phase learners at the Kaalfontein Primary School in Midrand.
Staff from the Gauteng Region will visit and make donations to the Villa Lethemba Home that caters for children with special needs in Kempton Park.
As part of their Mandela Day activities, the Mangaung Branch from the Free State Region, will be assisting with the planting of trees and plants to create a park in the Botshabelo area. Members from the Moqhaka Branch are cleaning the Phekolong Hospice Centre at the Old Voortrekker Hospital in Kroonstad.
Shop Stewards and members of the Matlosana Branch in the North West and the Hantam Branch in the Northern Cape will participate in clean-up projects in and around their municipal buildings.
As part of their Mandela Day efforts this year, the Johannesburg Region will be donating soccer balls to children in their surrounding community.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Branch Committee will be visiting the Gelvan Park Frail Care Centre and donating fresh produce and food products to the staff and residents.
The Tshwane Region will be assisting with multiple improvements at the Tshwaranang Children’s Home in Pretoria, followed by lunch for the staff and children.
In the spirit of Mandela Day, the Cape Town Metro Region made a considerable donation to the Fikelela Children’s Home in Khayelitsha and the Western Cape Region will be donating blankets to a shelter in Paarl as well as providing sanitary ware to a local old age home.
Shop Stewards and staff from the eThekwini Region will be painting classrooms, landscaping and providing lunch for the children at the Jabulani Nursery and Pre-primary School.
The KwaZulu Natal Region organised and sponsored netball clothing and a trophy for the Kokstad Municipality’s Mandela Day sports tournament. The four sponsored primary schools include Kokstad Primary School, Horse Shoe Primary School, Franklin Primary School, Nomzamo Primary School. This event involves as many children as possible and promotes unity through participation in sporting activities.
“The annual birthday of our former President Nelson Mandela has come to represent a day in which we remember what he in his individual capacity has done for our country and what we in turn can do for each other. IMATU is a proud supporter of Mandela Day,” concluded Koen.
