Laudium Care Services for the Aged (LCSA) marked its annual Mandela Day celebration yesterday (Wednesday, July 15), in anticipation of Mandela Day (Saturday, July 18), at ‘The Ballroom’ venue on Bengal Street, Laudium (next to Shell), bringing together various members of the community to honour the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela. The programme opened with a welcome by Mohsina Aboo, who spoke about the importance of ensuring that older persons receive the love, care, dignity and respect they deserve. Senior citizens took an active role in the celebration by singing the South African national anthem, observing a moment of prayer, singing Mandela songs and taking part in breathing and hand exercises.
This year, the seniors proudly produced and donated 67 handmade items (symbolizing the 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted to public service and the fight for human rights and social justice), showing how even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference.
*Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 and passed away on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95. Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, statesman and revolutionary. He was the country’s first Black head of state (1994 to 1999) after the first fully representative democratic election. He studied law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand before working as a lawyer in Johannesburg. Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, that led a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government. Following the Rivonia Trial, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state. Globally, Mandela is regarded as an icon of moral leadership, peace, democracy and social justice. He received more than 250 honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize. To this day, he is held in deep respect within South Africa, where he is often referred to by his Thembu clan name, Madiba, and described as the “Father of the Nation”. Mandela is widely considered one of the greatest and most admired figures of the 20th century. One of Mandela’s reported famous sayings is…
LCSA seniors stitch together Mandela’s
legacy with 67 gifts of kindness…
Laudium Care Services for the Aged (LCSA) commemorated Mandela Day
yesterday (Wednesday, July 15) in anticipation of Mandela Day which is observed worldwide on July 18.
The event which was held at ‘The Ballroom’ at Hanifa Centre on Bengal Str (next to Shell Garage), brought together senior citizens, community leaders, volunteers, and stakeholders, to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela through service, compassion, and community engagement.
The day commenced with a warm welcome by Mohsina Aboo, who highlighted the importance of ensuring that older persons receive the love, care, dignity, and respect they deserve, while strengthening community unity. Senior citizens actively participated in the celebration by singing the South African national anthem, observing a moment of prayer, singing songs in praise of Mandela, sharing laughter, participating in breathing and hand exercises, and encouraging one another in a spirit of togetherness.
Amongst the guests were Bassam El Hussiny, Deputy Ambassador of Palestine in South Africa, who acknowledged the strong relationship between South Africa and Palestine, reflecting on Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy of freedom, justice, and human rights.
As part of the programme, LCSA volunteer social worker Rooki Soma introduced the organisation’s social work team. Social worker Ashlia Malema presented the range of psychosocial services offered by LCSA and raised awareness about elder abuse, encouraging the community to recognise, prevent, and report all forms of abuse against older persons.
The empowerment session, presented by Silverani Kollapen, showcased the remarkable talents of LCSA’s senior citizens through knitting, crocheting, and sewing initiatives. This year, the seniors proudly produced and donated 67 handmade items (symbolizing the 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted to public service and the fight for human rights and social justice), demonstrating that even small acts of kindness can make a significant impact. The session also encouraged intergenerational support and community empowerment. The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Rooki Soma, who expressed sincere appreciation to the staff, volunteers, sponsors, guest speakers, and senior citizens whose contributions made the celebration a success.
She said, “LCSA remains committed to promoting the rights, dignity, protection, and well-being of older persons through professional social work services, community awareness programmes and empowerment initiatives.”
