All South African foreign missions have been instructed by their headquarters at the ministry of international relations and cooperation to celebrate their freedom fighter Nelson Mandela’s birthday due July 18, in a charity activity.

In an interview yesterday, Dumisani Gwadiso the South African Ambassador to Rwanda said all embassy staff and South African nationals in the country will participate in humanitarian activities that day.

"All our foreign missions will physically work to assist the poorest of the poor in their respective countries,” Gwadiso said on phone yesterday.

"This is purely South African, it was an order from our president and the ministry of international relations and cooperation gave us direction.”

Gwadiso added that every south African national in Rwanda will take at least 67 minutes in service to the communities to clean, fix and repair but above all share time with Rwandese.

He said 67 minutes are symbolic to 67 years Mandela spent in the struggle to liberate South Africa and fight apartheid.

The staff of the South African Embassy in Rwanda will volunteer to spend time in Gitarama and officials will fix the house of Abizeramariya.

This new initiative that will be led by each South African Mission internationally, intends to create a continuous movement for good works and making it an annual celebration of Mandela’s life and a global call to action for everyone has the power to change the world around them.

South Africa has got not less than 122 foreign mission in the whole world and at least 52 foreign missions in Africa alone that will participate in this new initiative.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664, the campaign vehicle of the Mandela organizations, are calling for Mandela Day on 18 July, to be recognized as an annual international ‘day of humanitarian action’ in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy.

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