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Vilakazi Street residents ready for celebrations

Vilakazi Street packed to capacity Picture: Neo Goba
Vilakazi Street packed to capacity Picture: Neo Goba

For 83-year-old pensioner Grace Mafafane Mandela Day means she gets to be spoiled just like the old days when Tata was alive.

Mafafane, a resident of Orlando West and a neighbour to the Mandela House in Vilakazi Street, could not wait to celebrate Madiba's birthday today. "I will go spend the day at the party they normally have for us as the community.

" I come from far with that family [Mandelas]," said Mafafane.

"Winnie [Madikizela] and Nelson Mandela really loved us as residents and treated us equally. Their daughters are really respectful.

"Today we will get blankets, a meal, they treat us as eggs. I know that I will feel like they [Winnie and Nelson Mandela] are with us in person.

"I always really look forward to [the] day [July 18]," said Mafafane.

ALSO READ:Security to be beefed up in Vilakazi St after shooting of restaurant manager: mayor

Many South Africans today celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela by dedicating 67 minutes to doing good for their communities.

Lerato Ndlovu, 33, a shop owner in Vilakazi Street, said she will spend the day doing charity work.

"I have a R500 budget for the Orlando Children's Home, so I will buy cereal and sanitary pads and spend some time with the children there during my lunch hour, because I have to transport my child to school and back and open the shop," said Ndlovu.

"When my grandmother, the owner of the house was alive, she would spend her 67 minutes praying."

Eight-year-old Thando Mngomezulu said: "I will spend [the day] cleaning for my mom and my aunt because I love them. "My aunt is very ill and cannot do much for herself because she has a heart problem, so I will do something nice for her."

S'nenhlanhla Mlotshwa, 29, a cleaner at Phefeni Secondary School, said she will be doing more work at the school to celebrate the life of Mandela.

"We clean at the school every six months.

"We normally just clean the floor, but this time we saw that the windows were dirty so we will clean those as well, and will not charge extra and that will be our 67 minutes."

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