By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung Executive Mayor, Malekula Melato, has carried the spirit of Mandela Month into Women’s Month, using the momentum to uplift children and empower communities.
Through her “Everyday is Mandela Day Mayoral Programme,” Melato has been visiting villages across the municipality, handing over educational toys to crèches and engaging residents on service delivery issues. Her latest stops included Lehakoe Day Care Centre in Marallaneng, Monontsha (Ward 11), and Matshedisong Day Care Centre in Phamong Village (Ward 14), alongside Ward Councillor Pulane Makae.
Earlier, she had visited Tebang, Namahadi, and Makeneng.At Tebang Crèche, Melato told teachers and caregivers that investing in children is a duty shared by all.
“In honoring the legacy of our former President, Dr. Nelson Mandela, it is important that we invest in the education of our children. We are responsible for their educational development and we are doing the best we can to make them better,” she said.
She also encouraged children to treat the toys with care, to share, and to play together – underscoring Mandela’s belief in unity and compassion.
“Mandela Day is every day, and we encourage all community members to play their part,” she added.
Educators welcomed the donations, saying the toys would enhance early childhood development by sharpening creativity, problem-solving and social skills. They, however, pointed out the ongoing shortage of learning resources in many centres, highlighting the need for sustained support.
While in Marallaneng, Melato used the opportunity to inspect a newly installed transformer that restored electricity after prolonged outages. She also held discussions with residents, signalling her administration’s commitment to coupling symbolic gestures with tangible service delivery.
By extending Mandela’s legacy into August, Melato is also placing focus on Women’s Month, demonstrating how women leaders are shaping communities through education, accountability, and service. Her approach, community members said, is a reminder that leadership is not only about speeches but about being present on the ground.
The “Everyday is Mandela Day” programme is set to continue in the coming weeks, with more crèches in other wards expected to benefit. For Melato, the effort is both a tribute to Mandela’s vision of a just society and a call for active citizenship.“We want our children to dream big,” she said.
“They must know they are not forgotten, and that as leaders we are here to support their future.”In a municipality often troubled by service delivery protests and social challenges, the initiative offers a glimmer of hope – showing how small but consistent acts can nurture trust and inspire unity.As Mandela once reminded the world, “It is in your hands to make a difference.” Melato’s campaign suggests that in Maluti-a-Phofung, those words are being put into practice – one crèche, one community, and one step at a time.
