{"id":304117,"date":"2025-07-23T10:06:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T08:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/mandela-day\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:30:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:30:50","slug":"mandela-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/mandela-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Communities join hands to embody Mandela&#8217;s goodwill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Communities within Bloemfontein \u2212 in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) \u2212 rolled up their sleeves on Friday, 18 July, to embark on various projects aimed at bringing about positive change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was their response to the Nelson Mandela Day initiative of dedicating 67 minutes of their time towards service to the community. The day coincides with the birthday of the late South African statesman, who became the first president on the advent of democracy in 1994. Celebrated internationally, the programme supports Mandela&#8217;s advocacy for humanitarian spirit.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BloemExpress, a publication of Novus Media Comunity News, share these photos of the eventful Mandela Day celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG20250718093608_88409.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meals on Wheels held a cook-a-thon on Mandela Day. Businesses were invited to send volunteers to help cook a meal for 1 000 people. New Dimension Auditors, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Sasko joined hands for this event. Here, from the left, are Kundiso Manditereza, Zuko Bhadulana (both of New Dimension) and Jojo Siphokazi (Meals on Wheels)while helping to prepare the food.  Photo: Lientjie Mentz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG20250718113500_39473.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More than a handful of women took part in the War Museum&#8217;s Squares of Love initiative to celebrate Mandela Day. They knitted blanket squares for 67 minutes. The museum collected knitted squares from all over South Africa, which was then knitted together as blankets for Anchor of Hope and Tinkie Delport of Angel Arms in Erlichpark. Here the women are with blankets that were donated to Angel Arms.  Photo: Lientjie Mentz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CUTpikengraaf_62037.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All hands were on deck with the brandishing \nof pickaxes, shovels and rakes when a group \nof 16 students decided to repair the parking area \nat the Heidedal Police Station in Bloemfontein as part of their contribution to the annual celebration of Nelson Mandela Day, observed on 18 July. \nThese candidates are enlisted for the Pothole \nEradication Programme basic skills training \ninitiative, a partnership initiative between the \nCentral University of Technology (CUT) in the \nFree State and the Free State Department of \nCommunity Safety, Roads and Transport.  \nPhoto: Teboho Setena<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/UFSAccessstudents_36836.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lecturers and a group of students at the University of the Free State&#8217;s (UFS) Active Community of Care, through Engaged Scholarship for Sustainability, volunteered to give a new look to one of the apartments of the Re\u00ebnboog Old-Age Home in Heidedal. The group beautified the wall with creative colourful paintings, adding some personal flair.  Photo: Lientjie Mentz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CPFHeidedal_80614.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Angel Foundation, Mr Central South Africa in partnership with the Mangaung Metro recognised the longest serving and former Community Policing Forum chairperson Andries &#8220;Oom Smittie&#8221; Smith (fourth from the left) on Nelson Mandela Day at an event held at the Reenboog Old Age Home. Rejoicing his contribution from the left are Cap. Martin buffet, Nicole Prins (Angle Foundation), Lt Col Melanie Fouche (Heidedal station commander), Johnny Jansen (current chairperson of the Heidedal Community Policing Forum),  Ernest Mofokeng, Reigning King, Mr Central South Africa 2023\/2024 and Sgt Boitumelo Dasheka (Heidedal police station) Photo: Teboho Setena<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Communities within Bloemfontein \u2212 in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) \u2212 rolled up their sleeves to bring positive change on Mandela 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This initiative spreads \"goodwool\" across the nation. From the left are, front: Diane Hilligenn (13); back: Ntombizodwa Valtuin, Jamilla Wymers-Magogo (both of Secret Scarves), Kate-Lynne Diedericks (15), Juliana Grundlingh (15) and Phoebe Hood (Secret Scarves).  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