ORT SA’s 2021 Mandela Day

The late Nelson Mandela once said, “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” 

Especially given the recent turmoil in the country, we believe it’s more important than ever that as a nation, we reflect on his message – and the hope it offers us. 

That’s why this Mandela Day, ORT SA sought to remind our nation of Mandela’s dream and how we can hold on to it during troubled times. 

On the 16th of July, ORT SA, in partnership with Hudaco, joined forces with Flatline Radio to do their 67 minutes on-air and motivate the youth of South Africa.

Bambatha Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, had this to say to our nation’s youth during the broadcast: “We all must stay intact, and we all must stay united because togetherness is the only way we are going to stand and rise. Now, it’s time for us to pave a new way, guys. Our intentions set our reality, and I believe that the youth have pure intentions, and we have the best intentions for this country.”

Akhona Pauli, Junior Project Manager of the ORT SA Skills Department, told listeners about the work his department was doing with the youth: “As part of the ORT SA mission of making people employable, the Skills Department at ORT SA has placed more than 2000 youth in the past two years for workplace experience. Many of them have been absorbed and became employed thanks to this initiative in partnership with YES and the corporate business in South Africa.”

Akhona Pauli also had a few words of encouragement for the youth: “I just want to say to the youth of South Africa, there is always hope. Hope is what keeps us going, and in our organisation, we have departments that are assisting the youth, left, right and centre.” 

Businessman and SA hip hop veteran, Slikour also had some encouraging words for the youth: “I just want to motivate people to look within themselves in these trying times and to remember their importance and their value. The meaning of the 67 minutes is just finding your purpose, if we never had freedom fighters like the late Nelson Mandela, who found who they are and acknowledged their struggles. They are who they are through struggle, and we are also going through a struggle, so we need to remember that we need to be who we are through that struggle. We can’t cave in.”

Just like “it takes a village to raise a child”, our nation’s endemic problems require everyone to come together and keep the South African dream alive. With that in mind, we would like to thank Hudaco for its contribution to social, economic and skills development in the country and for channelling the spirit of Mandela Day into every day of the year.

From Left to Right: Bambatha Mandela, Chimezie Ogbonna & Kunda Mtonga