Mvezo chief Mandla Mandela is embarking on a drive to warm elderly rural people by distributing blankets in an effort to help them ward off the chilly winter weather the country has been experiencing.
For the past two days Mandela, grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, has been visiting traditional councils to hand over blankets to the poor and needy.
“Nkosi Dalibhunga, our former President Nelson Mandela, said that the measure of a society’s greatness is the manner in which it treats its most vulnerable,” said Mandela.
“In many rural villages across South Africa, and particularly the Eastern Cape, it is the elders that have to bear the greatest burden as able-bodied men and women seek employment, opportunity and the prospects of further study and self-advancement in the urban city centres.
“This leaves the entire social burden of rural households on the shoulders of the elders.”
Mandela said for this reason it was important to look after the elderly.
Traditional councils that have benefited from the drive so far include the Msana Traditional Council and the Rune Traditional Council.
“The cold spell of weather experienced in the Eastern Cape may be a sign of a long icy winter to come. In these extreme climatic conditions the elderly are most at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and other illnesses,” said Mandela.
He said given the Eastern Cape’s high levels of poverty, unemployment and under-development, it was often the elderly who suffered the most as they could not afford adequate protection against the elements.
“This cuts to the core of how we as a society should respond and protect those who are the most vulnerable in our midst, especially our elders,” he said.
Mandela said the donation of blankets had come from the Alimdaad Foundation Winter Warmth project.
“This act of kindness and caring is to be applauded and we trust other organisations will follow suit so that no elder anywhere, in any village should suffer the harsh cold of winter without adequate protection and warmth.
Mandela and the foundation have since 2008 donated warm blankets to the elderly in the Eastern Cape and in other parts of the country every year. “Overall, we used to distribute 64000 blankets nationally per annum, with 3000 for the Eastern Cape,” he said.
“But due to the economic crisis the number has come down. This season we will distribute a total of only 1400 for the Eastern Cape, the Transkei to be specific.”
Mandla in drive to warm the elderly
For the past two days Mandela, grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, has been visiting traditional councils to hand over blankets to the poor and needy.
“Nkosi Dalibhunga, our former President Nelson Mandela, said that the measure of a society’s greatness is the manner in which it treats its most vulnerable,” said Mandela.
“In many rural villages across South Africa, and particularly the Eastern Cape, it is the elders that have to bear the greatest burden as able-bodied men and women seek employment, opportunity and the prospects of further study and self-advancement in the urban city centres.
“This leaves the entire social burden of rural households on the shoulders of the elders.”
Mandela said for this reason it was important to look after the elderly.
Traditional councils that have benefited from the drive so far include the Msana Traditional Council and the Rune Traditional Council.
“The cold spell of weather experienced in the Eastern Cape may be a sign of a long icy winter to come. In these extreme climatic conditions the elderly are most at risk of hypothermia, frostbite and other illnesses,” said Mandela.
He said given the Eastern Cape’s high levels of poverty, unemployment and under-development, it was often the elderly who suffered the most as they could not afford adequate protection against the elements.
“This cuts to the core of how we as a society should respond and protect those who are the most vulnerable in our midst, especially our elders,” he said.
Mandela said the donation of blankets had come from the Alimdaad Foundation Winter Warmth project.
“This act of kindness and caring is to be applauded and we trust other organisations will follow suit so that no elder anywhere, in any village should suffer the harsh cold of winter without adequate protection and warmth.
Mandela and the foundation have since 2008 donated warm blankets to the elderly in the Eastern Cape and in other parts of the country every year. “Overall, we used to distribute 64000 blankets nationally per annum, with 3000 for the Eastern Cape,” he said.
“But due to the economic crisis the number has come down. This season we will distribute a total of only 1400 for the Eastern Cape, the Transkei to be specific.”
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