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Africans and the rest of the world on Thursday commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Mandela Day.

The annual international day is in honour of former South African President and Freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.

It is celebrated each year on 18 July, which happens to be Mandela’s birthday.

The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010.

Several activities are taking place across Africa especially in South Africa to mark the occasion.

“It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build.” #NelsonMandela Mandela’s words resonate as strong today as ever. #MandelaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/gUPVszeNEe — UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) July 18, 2019

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Mandela Day is not an event

Humanitarian Graça Machel, former president Nelson Mandela’s widow, told guests at a dialogue to commemorate the legacy of Mandela in Germiston, Gauteng on Thursday that “Mandela Day is a reminder that any one of us has the power to take initiative and drive transformation.”

She adds that “Let us not look at Mandela Day as an event that we will be part of every year. We need to look at it as a pledge for the whole year that goes beyond one’s daily activities.

Decide what is the difference I can make to people over the year so that it can become a way of being, not just an event.”

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South Africans and many around the world are being encouraged to engaged in social and humanitarian activities in their communities to mark the day.

City of Ekurhuleni is hosting the @NelsonMandela foundation for the 10th anniversary of the #MandelaDay celebrations. Mam’Graca Machel begins packing sanitary pads with Mayor Masina and MEC Maile @TeamNews24 . pic.twitter.com/30HsIhfY1k — Canny Maphanga (@CannyMaphanga) July 18, 2019

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is also asking citizens of South Africa to give back 67 minutes to their community to mark the day.

A few months ago I received an invitation from Rx Radio, the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Radio to join them as a guest for a show. There can be no better day to honour their invitation than to spend my 67 minutes of #MandelaDay2019 being interviewed by these bright young minds. pic.twitter.com/ENsc2jDAuy — Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 18, 2019

Mandela day activities

On social media many Africans have been sharing their Mandela Day message. Some also shared what they have been doing to mark the occasion.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that 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” – Nelson Mandela #MandelaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/lHJBhPMl9H — Janine Van Wyk (@Janinevanwyk5) July 18, 2019

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”. #MandelaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/3lzWUfegvh — MEP Martina Anderson (@M_AndersonSF) July 18, 2019

I spent my 67 minutes today with my great team from #PublicWorks to make a difference in the lives of women, children and the elderly in Athlone and Gugulethu today. We installed 20 new computers and carpet at the Saartjie Baartman Centre. #MandelaDay2019 pic.twitter.com/FXL4sR4Xxn — Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) July 18, 2019

Source: Africafeeds.com