Latest news with #MandelaInternationalDay
IOL News
20-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
MEC Martin Meyer adopts struggling school for deaf pupils in Durban
KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer adopted a deaf school as part of Mandela Day commemoration. Image: Willem Phungula In commemoration of Mandela International Day, KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer has pledged his support by adopting a financially struggling school for deaf pupils. On Friday the MEC, flanked by his department head Dr Vish Govender and eThekwini Municipality ward 97 councillor Andre Beegte spent his 67 minutes in Durban School for hearing impaired in Amanzimtoti south of Durban where he participated in painting the school's ablution facilities. The school owes the municipality R1,5 million for water and R800, 000 for the electricity which the school attributed to undetected underground water leaks and cable theft. The school has just over 300 pupils which are some of them are intellectually impaired and autistic. It has only one therapist which the school management says gives them problems. Speaking at the event, the MEC pledged to support the school and announced that he will partner with the non-governmental organization to fix water leaks in the school. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Meyer, who is now a new resident of Amanzimtoti, said it was a cabinet decision that all MECs must choose a school they will support. He said he chose the school because he always drive past it everyday when going to and from work. The MEC said the second reason he chose the school was that his brother is also hearing impaired. 'The other reason is that my department works closely with the people living with disabilities to a point that we developed the app to assist the disabled to get jobs,' said Meyer. The MEC said as the country is in a difficult place right now remembering Mandela and emulating his leadership has never been so important, He described him as a selfless leader who willingly served his one term and stepped down to allow others to lead, adding that today politicians don't want to leave office. The MEC said Mandela also loved children whom he called future leaders so it was important that new leaders also support children because they are the future. This year was the 16th commemoration of Mandela day where the United Nations declared 18 July -which is Mandela's day birthday- to be dedicated to the upliftment of the societies particularly the vulnerable communities where everyone must dedicate his or 67 minutes in honour of Mandela.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Is Europe becoming the frontline of the military battlefield against Russia?
Mrutyuanjai Mishra is a commentator with Politiken, Denmark's largest newspaper. He also comments on Asia on Danish TV and radio channels. He has authored many analytical articles on Asia and India in several Danish newspapers. He has studied anthropology at Copenhagen University and has specialized in human rights and democratization. Mrutyuanjai Mishra has spent half of his life in India and the other half in the Scandinavian countries Denmark and Sweden. Mrutyuanjai Mishra is also a consultant lecturer on issues related to India and Asia at institutions of higher education. He is currently working on a book on India to be used for higher educational purposes in Scandinavian countries. LESS ... MORE The 18th of July holds deep significance for human rights activists across the world. It is Nelson Mandela International Day: his birthday. Had he been alive today, Mandela would have turned 107. He passed away at the age of 95, but his legacy continues to inspire global conversations about justice, dignity, and reconciliation. Mandela was the first black head of state in South Africa and the first to be elected through a fully democratic process, after spending 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid. He was deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. South Africa's long, painful journey toward freedom mirrors India's own decades-long struggle for independence, finally achieved in 1947. Mandela once urged each of us, regardless of nationality, race, or background, to dedicate at least one hour on this day to doing something meaningful for someone else or for a community in need. Those who admire his values and wish to honor his legacy can always find a way to help, even in small acts of kindness. These gestures, however modest, reflect a deeper commitment to our shared humanity. And yet, today, that very humanity is under increasing strain. After attending a peace conference in Berlin on July 12–13, I left with a sobering realization: Europe is in urgent need of clarity, courage, and political sanity. Participants from across the globe had gathered to voice growing concern about the escalating political and military tensions in Europe and beyond. The conference brought together peace activists, academics, students, former diplomats, politicians, military officials, economists, musicians, and other professionals. Hundreds more joined virtually. The opening session bore a striking title: 'Man Is Not a Wolf to Man: For a New Paradigm in International Relations.' In her keynote address, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, traced the historical forces that have led us to this dangerous precipice. She warned that we are at a 'punctum saliens', a critical inflection point in history, comparable to the years preceding the First and Second World Wars. The message is clear: we must act. We can draw strength from the South African philosophy of Ubuntu, which teaches: 'I am because you are.' This simple but profound truth reminds us that our fates are intertwined. Peace in one region fosters peace everywhere. Conflict in one region sends tremors throughout the entire world. It was deeply moving to see American peace activists standing shoulder to shoulder with others from around the world, united by the conviction that a more cooperative and just global order is still within reach. One of the most powerful voices at the conference was Ray McGovern, former senior CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). Now in his eighties, McGovern spoke with the authority of someone who has witnessed generations of geopolitical shifts. He asserted that the United States had fundamentally betrayed Russia after the Cold War. Recalling a conversation with Mikhail Gorbachev's secretary, McGovern recounted asking, 'Why didn't you get it in writing from U.S. Secretary of State James Baker that NATO wouldn't expand an inch?' The response was tragic in its naivety: 'We trusted you all.' Mandela Day reminds us that trust, once broken, is extraordinarily hard to rebuild. Today, Russia views American military intentions with profound suspicion. One emerging flashpoint is Denmark. The Danish government has invited the US to build military bases on its territory, without holding a referendum or even consulting the public. Many Danes now fear that their country could be compelled to accept nuclear weapons and relinquish control over what the U.S. military does on Danish soil. Who would have imagined, just a few years ago, that Denmark could be transformed into a frontline state in a major war, one that might spiral into a third world war? Critics argue that Danish politicians have all but surrendered their national sovereignty. This brings us to one of Russia's leading strategic thinkers: Dmitri Trenin, Academic Leader at the Institute for Military World Economy and Strategy, Higher School of Economics, Moscow. Speaking from Russia at the Berlin conference, Trenin delivered a stark warning about the direction into which Europe is heading. 'Europe is intent on becoming the frontline of the military battlefield against Russia,' he said. Trenin argued that this confrontation is being used to create a new cohesion in Europe, positioning the continent as a replacement for the United States in the strategic standoff with Russia, while Washington shifts its focus to containing China. According to Trenin, the justification for this military escalation is built on a false premise: that Russia is preparing to attack NATO. He warned that this narrative is being used to rationalize a long-term military buildup, including long-range weapons systems and the deployment of troops to the Ukrainian front, based on the dangerously misguided assumption that Russia will not retaliate. 'The current situation,' he said, 'is even more dangerous than during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. But there is still a narrow window of hope, if meaningful action is taken at this eleventh hour.' So, what can we do for humanity on this Mandela Day? Perhaps we can begin by urging more Europeans to choose dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over coercion, and peace over militarization. Europe must not allow itself to become a vassal state of the United States, nor should it attempt to pressure nations like India, China, or Brazil into adopting a unipolar vision of world order. Instead, Europe should reclaim its independent voice, one rooted in diplomacy, dignity, and balance. It must help shape a multilateral world where all nations are heard and respected, and where the Global South is finally given the space and justice it needs to heal from centuries of colonialism, exploitation, and racism. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mathews Phosa: 'The Madiba I knew'
Dr. Mathews Phosa reflects on Nelson Mandela's legacy on Mandela International Day Image: Thabo Makwakwa As the world commemorates Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18-an annual global tribute to the revered leader's life and legacy-veteran ANC stalwart Mathews Phosa has offered a heartfelt reflection on Mandela's life, describing him as 'the university of life' who imparted invaluable principles of leadership, unity, and perseverance. Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95 due to a prolonged respiratory infection. In an exclusive interview with IOL, Phosa explained Mandela's role as a unifying figure and a teacher whose experiences shaped not only South Africa's liberation but also the nation's moral fabric. 'Over 35 years ago, I was a commander of the army based in Mozambique, responsible for military operations in the so-called Eastern Transvaal, Natal, and parts of the Eastern Cape.' He detailed how he was summoned to Lusaka to meet Mandela shortly after his release from prison. "He said to me, 'Boy, I am so happy to meet you,' Phosa recalled. 'Last week, I was in Kwanyamazane addressing a rally when I met your law partner, Phineus Mojapelo. He told me he had come to fetch me.' 'I asked, 'What do you mean? You're here to fetch me?' Because I knew that if I touched down in South Africa, I could be arrested - I had been wanted. Yet Mandela insisted, 'I am coming to fetch you.'' Phosa described his feelings as he prepared to return home. 'Thabo Mbeki gave me a British Airways ticket to fly to Mozambique. I asked who would receive me upon my return. 'Mbeki told me, 'Don't worry, the people who will receive you, just go home.' I asked how he could say that, but I trusted him as a soldier—if he said left, I went left.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As he flew back to South Africa, Phosa experienced a surge of pride. 'I realised that this country was the best - it's a beautiful country. That's what we fought for, the freedom of this country was worth dying for.' At the airport, Phosa recounted, 'Men came to me and asked, 'Are you Mathews?' I said no. Then they asked, 'Are you Fredy Phosa?' I said, 'Which Fredy are you looking for?' They said they were looking for Freddy Mathews Phosa.' He clarified, 'I told them, 'I am Freddy Makwakwa, Freddy Maputo, I was many Freddies, and they said they were looking for Fredy Maputo, and then I agreed.' He said that because he was in exile and had a Ghanaian passport, he was asked to explain how he obtained it. 'They stamped my passport and asked where I got it. I explained I was in exile and had to have that passport.' He described how he called his partner, Mojapelo, to fetch him at the airport, but due to a lack of cell phone communication, Mojapelo was unable to find him. 'Along the way, they told me they were taking me to Vlaakplas and that they had heard I interrogated some apartheid officials there, but they were just scaring me,' Phosa said. According to Phosa, a few days later, Phosa and leaders like Mandela, former president Jacob Zuma, and others began negotiations that culminated in South Africa's democratic constitution. 'We couldn't even see our families or move freely at the time - it was so dangerous. We had to ensure negotiations started peacefully,' he recalled. He reflected on his clandestine visits to Pretoria's Mabopane, where he met with his wife and mother before heading to Cape Town to prepare for the negotiations for Codesa. He stated that the apartheid government had issues with the delegation that was to represent the ANC. 'We insisted that we be part of the delegation, refusing to accept Afrikaner attempts to exclude leaders like Chris Hani and Joe Slovo. Then the acting president, former President De Klerk, agreed to let us be part of the negotiations.' Phosa described Mandela as a 'father figure' who taught them basic principles of life, negotiation, and peace. 'Standing next to Mandela at 38, as his advisor, was a privilege,' he said. 'He was a university of life. He told us, 'You need to make peace with your enemies because you already have peace with your comrades and friends. You must impose peace, whether by violence or dialogue.' He also shared insights into Mandela's meticulous approach to speeches. 'Mandela would never read a speech unless we approved it. He wrote most speeches he delivered, but he understood that his words carried weight, and he wanted them to reflect his true message.' Phosa highlighted Mandela's ability to think with his head, not just his heart. 'He taught us not to think with our hearts but our heads. When the armed struggle was suspended, it was a tough time, including the collapse of initial negotiations,' he explained. He recounted the efforts to revive negotiations through 'working groups' and the formation of teams led by Cyril Ramaphosa to address issues like the constitution and the nation's future. As South Africa continues to build on Mandela's legacy, Phosa affirmed that 'Mandela was the source of unity. His life was a testament to reconciliation, hope, and resilience. He showed us that even in the darkest times, perseverance and peace could forge a new nation.' Reflecting on Mandela's profound influence, Phosa remarked, 'He was not just a leader but a teacher, a father figure, and a university of life itself. His principles remain our guiding light. As we celebrate his life, remember that his legacy is about building peace, unity, and a better future for all.' IOL Politics
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
UN Awards 2025 Mandela Prize To Brenda Reynolds And Kennedy Odede
28 May 2025 Secretary-General António Guterres will present the award to Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede on 18 July, Nelson Mandela International Day. Established in 2014, the prize is awarded every five years to two individuals whose work reflects the late South African President's legacy of leadership, humility, service, and unity across borders. 'This year's Mandela prize winners embody the spirit of unity and possibility – reminding us how we all have the power to shape stronger communities and a better world,' said Mr. Guterres. Brenda Reynolds A Status Treaty member of the Fishing Lake Saulteaux First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, Brenda Reynolds has spent decades advancing Indigenous rights, mental health, and trauma-informed care. In 1988, she supported 17 teenage girls in the first residential school sexual abuse case in Saskatchewan. Later, she became a special adviser to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), helping shape survivor support and trauma responses. She is most recognised for her key role in Canada's court-ordered Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and her subsequent development of the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program—a national initiative offering culturally grounded mental health care for survivors and families. In 2023, she was invited by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union to share her expertise on trauma and cultural genocide. Kennedy Odede Living in Kenya's Kibera Slum for 23 years, Kennedy Odede went from living on the street at 10 years old to global recognition when he was named one of TIME magazine's 2024 100 Most Influential People. His journey began with a small act: saving his meagre factory earnings to buy a soccer ball and bring his community together. That spark grew into Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), a grassroots movement he now leads as CEO. SHOFCO operates in 68 locations across Kenya, empowering local groups and delivering vital services to over 2.4 million people every year. Mr. Odede is also a New York Times bestselling co-author and holds roles with USAID, the World Economic Forum, the Obama Foundation, and the Clinton Global Initiative.
