Mahikeng has the potential to become the best city in South Africa if people work together, says Ramaphosa.
 
Mahikeng has the potential of becoming the best city in the rest of South Africa if the community work together with the provincial government to make the city a clean and better place to live, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Mahikeng on Friday at the beginning of a hectic schedule to mark the Nelson Mandela Day.
 
Ramaphosa who was accompanied by North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, Minister of Water and Sanitation Nonvula Mokonyane, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordan and North West Health MEC Dr Magome Masike, said government takes Mandela Day very seriously  as it honours one of the world’s greatest statesmen. 

“We are very pleased to be here on this special day which is the birth-day of Nelson Mandela that the whole world loves. On this day people all over the world remember him for the good work that he has done for humanity. All the leaders of our government are all working today to contribute their 67 minutes of community service in recognition of Mandela’s 67 years of commitment to human rights and equality,” said Ramaphosa.
 
Premier Mahumapelo said it was gratifying to see government leaders from National government coming to the province to contribute their 67 minutes by working with the community in the cleaning campaign of Mahikeng and spreading the message of cooperation.
 
“I take this opportunity to welcome the Deputy President and the two ministers accompanying him. We welcome the Deputy President and thank him for coming here to spread the message of cooperation on this important day,” said Premier Mahumapelo.
 
Mahumapelo also expressed his gratitude to the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) for donating a phaco machine that is used for cataract surgery, to the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital.
 
SANCB’s representative Phandle Phandle, who presented the machine to the hospital’s CEO Adriaan Lourens, said his organisation’s key objective was to prevent avoidable blindness and advocate for the establishment of eye care centres in all hospitals across the country.
 
“The machine is able to remove cataract in a very quick and effective way and we hope it will benefit the people of Mahikeng and the province. We are looking forward to be involved with many hospitals across the province,” said Phandle Phandle adding that he was happy that SANCB was able to contribute 67 minutes of goodwill by ploughing back to communities.
 
Ramaphosa and Mahumapelo’s team contributed their time by painting of walls at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospitals, before heading to the city centre where they helped with the cleaning of the city and repairs of potholes, among others.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_