Mayor walks Madiba talk in Qunu

QUNU village was a hive of activity yesterday as the community had the honour of being the launch site for former president Nelson Mandela’s centenary celebrations.

The day kicked off with OR Tambo district mayor Nomakhosazana Meth planting 100 trees at Nkalane Junior Secondary school and giving sanitary towels to 100 girls at Empa Senior Secondary School. The municipality plans to continue with the sanitary drive for the next 100 years.

Meth said celebrating Mandela’s legacy involved more than just talking about him.

“Madiba was our hero, but because he is from these parts he has left a legacy that we have a responsibility to not only maintain but fulfil as well.

“We want Qunu to be a hive of activity and an example of how government service delivery works,” said Meth.

She said the municipality had long commemorated and celebrated the life and legacy of Mandela on an annual basis, but this year was different.

“On top of planting trees, the municipality has given 100 homes 100 seedlings to jumpstart their household gardens, something that has proved a sure-fire way of ensuring food security. We have also brought 19 cows to start a heifer exchange that will help improve the quality of the livestock in this community.

“We have left 22 water tanks with the traditional leader to ensure that they will be spread across the community to ensure everyone here has access to clean and fresh water on top of the already running R75-million water project that will ensure lifetime access to water for all the people in Qunu and surrounds,” she said.

Meth said with the assistance of traditional leaders and other community members, five families had been identified for the municipality’s helping hand.

“The process of identifying these families has been eyeopening to see a community so united in ensuring the improvement of those in their midst who are less fortunate.

“May we all adopt that sense of unity because that is the spirit of ubuntu that Madiba is known for,” said Meth.

Qunu village ward councillor Unathi Daniso was moved at the significance of having the centenary begin in Qunu. “He was an international father figure he wanted to be here so that he may never think his work was done, and I have no doubt that our people will protect and nurture that spirit,” said Daniso. —