JOBURG wrapped in warmth on Mandela Day.
This as 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, a non-profit organisation, led an initiative to hang colourful handmade scarves across the city for those in need.
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Volunteers from different communities joined the campaign, travelling on the City Sightseeing Red Bus and stopping at Munro Drive in Houghton, Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein and Zoo Lake to tie scarves to fences, trees and railings for anyone needing protection from the winter cold.
The campaign encouraged South Africans to spend their 67 minutes giving back while spreading kindness across the city.
Gugulethu Mabuza from Soweto said the day was about continuing Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
“It actually feels great because we are following in the footsteps of our hero, Nelson Mandela. We are here to continue what he left behind,” she said.
She said Mandela represented freedom, unity and community service.
Volunteer, Ntosh Ntlokwana, who was alongside her daughte,r Kopano, said it was her first time taking part in the initiative.
“It’s interesting to go out on Mandela Day and think of other people by creating something like a scarf that will bring warmth to someone else. It shows what we can achieve when communities come together,” she said.
She added that Mandela inspired people to believe that small acts of kindness could make a big difference.
“He reminds us that it’s in our hands. One person can make a difference, but together we can do so much more for our country.”
Members of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day knitted many of the scarves used in the campaign, while volunteers from different walks of life helped to distribute them across Joburg.
Gift Gumbi, a volunteer from 67 Blankets, said every handmade scarf carried a special message.
“Something made by hand carries your time, energy and love. You’re passing that love from yourself to someone else,” she said.
People walking through the city throughout the day stopped to collect scarves, while others praised the initiative for bringing hope and warmth during Joburg’s cold winter.
