The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Makhotso Sotyu, will lead the Nelson Mandela International Day Outreach Programme on Tuesday, 18 July 2023 in Mangaung, Free State.

The theme for Mandela Day 2023 is “It’s In Your Hands.” The Nelson Mandela Foundation has also made a call to action for “Climate, Food & Solidarity”, highlighting that these issues are some of the most urgent challenges facing people worldwide. The Foundation believes by taking action against climate change and creating resilient food environments, we can dismantle poverty and inequality.

The call for climate action ties in well with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s key objectives which includes empowering communities with knowledge and resources to take action and become resilient. The outreach programme will see Deputy Minister Sotyu hand over garden tools and equipment to schools grow community food gardens. She will also hand over school and personal supplies (school desks, school shoes, sanitary pads, etc) to school children in the local community. In addition, a waste management truck will be donated to Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality to boost the municipality’s waste collection efforts.

Members of the media are invited to attend:

Date: Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Time: 9h00

Venue: Wepener, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, Free State Province.

To RSVP, please contact,

Sandile Shangase on 073 815 9838 / sshangase@dffe.gov.za(link sends e-mail) or Noma Bolani on 066 112 3746 / nbolani@dffe.gov.za(link sends e-mail)

For media enquiries contact:

Peter Mbelengwa

Cell: 082 611 8197

Source: Government of South Africa