Yesterday, July 18, 2025, marked the annual celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, and Ward 61 residents came together to honor the legacy of the beloved leader. Cllr Naeem Patel, in conjunction with the Laudium CPF, City of Tshwane Council Region 4, South African Police Services, Pakistan South Africa Association, Little Peoples Learning Academy, the Laudium Dawood Essop ANC branch, the Naeem Patel Foundation, the Ward 61 Residents association, The Ward Committee, and CIPLA SA, organized a series of events to commemorate Mandela Day.
The day began with a prayer and welcome address by Cllr Naeem Patel at the Bethesda Church in White blocks, followed by a meal sponsored by CPF chairperson Mr. Shaheen Wahab for about 80 local residents. The South African Police Services national department hosted the event, which was attended by community members who appreciated the gesture. This was the second year in a row that SAPs head office decided to celebrate Mandela Day in ward 61.
Clean-up Campaign
The second event was a clean-up campaign organized by the City of Tshwane Region 4, where officials, along with Cllr Naeem Patel, CPF chairperson Shaheen Wahab, residents association chairperson Zakiya Shaik, Ward Committee members, and employees of CIPLA SA, cleaned up the corner of 19th Avenue and the Military Road in Laudium. A TLB from the City of Tshwane was used to gather illegally dumped building material that was removed from the area. This was the second time this month that the area was cleaned by Cllr Naeem Patel and the City of Tshwane. Cllr Naeem Patel thanked the City of Tshwane officials and CIPLA SA for choosing to clean up ward 61 as part of there Mandela day activities.
Blanket Distribution
At 4 pm, Cllr Naeem Patel, the Laudium CPF, the Pakistan South Africa Association, the ANC Laudium Dawood Essop Branch, the Ward 61 Residents Association, and the ward committee visited Itireleng, where they distributed blankets to physically challenged residents at the Bokomotso creche. The blankets were sponsored by the Naeem Patel Foundation, bringing warmth and joy to those in need.
Cake Cutting Ceremony
The day concluded with a cake cutting ceremony at the Councillors lounge at the Civic Centre, attended by almost 50 residents from Whiteblocks. Residents sang "Happy Birthday" to Madiba before enjoying a slice of cake and receiving a grocery hamper sponsored by the Pakistan South Africa Association.
Cllr Patel thanked all those who assisted in commemorating Mandela Day and assisting the community of Ward 61. The commemoration will continue throughout the weekend with more events planned for Sunday.
This year's Mandela Day theme, "It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity," resonated deeply with the community, as they came together to make a difference in the lives of those around them. The events in Ward 61 are part of a broader national celebration, with various organizations and government leaders participating in community service activities across the country.
