By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – For Emily Mofokeng from Snake Park, it was a day filled with emotion and gratitude. As elderly citizens gathered at the Phuthaditjhaba Multipurpose Hall on 18 July to celebrate Mandela Day.
Mofokeng said it was the first time she experienced such a gathering. Despite arriving early in the cold morning hours, she felt overwhelmed with gratitude for being part of something so special.
“Even though I had a good time, I still live in a shack despite Mandela’s democracy. I hope that one day I’ll get to live in a proper house,” she said with a mixture of joy and quiet hope.
For Thabo Mofokeng from Disaster Park, the day was nothing short of a dream come true. “I am so happy because I got to see my favourite gospel singer Teboho Moloi. I feel excited and overwhelmed with joy,” he shared with a broad smile.
His friend Lefu Radebe from Bluegumbosch echoed his excitement. “I’m delighted that I got to see important leaders like MEC Mathabo Leeto today. It’s a day I’ll never forget,” he said.
In her keynote address, Free State MEC for Social Development Mathabo Leeto highlighted the importance of recognizing the role elderly citizens have played in building the country. “The elderly gathered here are the ones who can truly share what happened during apartheid. They raised doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other important members of society,” she said.
Leeto said the department chose to spend Mandela Day with senior citizens from different senior luncheon clubs to restore the family values and spirit of Ubuntu that Nelson Mandela believed in. “We are aware of the abuse our elderly face in our communities. We want to remind society of the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The event was graced by members of the Bakoena and Batlokoa royal households, as well as leadership from the Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality including executive mayor Malekula Melato and council speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini.
It was a day of celebration, reflection, and unity — a reminder that the legacy of Mandela lives on in the hearts of those who carry his values forward, especially the elders who shaped the very foundation of South Africa’s future.
