South Africans give 67 minutes to charity for Mandela Day

Thousands of people around the country have spent 67 minutes of their time over the weekend helping the needy in honour of the former President Nelson Mandela.Cheesekids is one of the organizations that mobilised a group of volunteers to help in squatter camps. On Sunday (July 17) they took a group to Kliptown just outside Johannesburg.

"After 17 years of democracy there's still nothing that has happened in this community, there are no schools, there's no electricity, there are no clinics, nothing at all. Survival is the name of the game," said one of the community leaders Thulani Madondo.

The organisation was founded in 2008 by the grandson of anti-apartheid heroes Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Shaka Sisulu.

"It means a lot to us, especially to hear that it's done in an honour to Mr Mandela, that also makes it more special for us because we know ukuthi (that) Mr Mandela is a world icon that is celebrated all over the world. And for us to be part of the beneficiaries of projects which are made in his name, that means a lot to us and that's gonna help us to even become better people and thrive to do all the good work that Mr. Mandela did for the country," said Shaka Sisulu.

This year Cheese kids got nearly 7,000 in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to help different organisation that need hands-on work. This includes painting, gardening and cleaning up.

"Cheese kids is a mobilization organization, what we do is activate young people so that they can get involved and get their hands dirty, assist other NGOs and basically all of us come together and make this country what it is, that we all want it to be," added Sisulu.

The initiative is part of the Mandela Day '67 minutes' campaign, which challenges people around the world to take time off -- at least 67 minutes, to do good for others. The campaign is inspired by the 67 years Mandela spent in the struggle for freedom and social justice.

"Nelson Mandela Day is an international day for us to celebrate the very values and ethos that were celebrated today, so it was a natural fit. We are asking people to give their time in developing their communities, their broader communities. Sometimes we are an enclave and we think that the rest of society isn't. We're asking people to contribute their time and to think about it. That's exactly what Nelson Mandela Day is all about, that's exactly what the legacy of Mr Mandela himself is," said Sisulu.

July 18, which is Mandela's birthday was declared an international day by the United Nations, to honour Mandela's contribution to humanity.

"We wish him a happy birthday and many more years to come, may God keep him for our grand children's children," said local resident Fikile Kubheka.

President Nelson Mandela has gone home to his home village in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, where he is quietly celebrating his birthday with his family.