The African cultural notion of ubuntu is that in your everyday life, as part of what makes you human, you should treat your neighbour as your family, and your neighbours’ children as your children.
It was in this spirit of ubuntu on Mandela Day that Unitra Community Radio DJ Tshepo Machaea donated a bed, groceries, blankets and cutlery and pledged to build a house for an elderly woman in the South African town of Umtata.
The Mandela Day campaign spearheaded by 46664, was launched on Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, July 18, 2009.
The campaign called on people to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to doing something good for society, thus following in Mr Mandela’s footsteps.
Machaea says he was attending Mandela Day celebrations at Mr Mandela’s home village of Qunu, near Umtata, when it was announced that a 98-year-old woman was present.
“When we were about to leave, Makhulu (grandmother) Mali spoke to me and asked me to come and visit her house, and I obliged.
“What I saw at this grandmother’s house was not fitting for a woman her age,” he says.
“Her living conditions were really bad; the roof of her hut was leaking and the door wouldn’t close properly, there was no food and she was still using enamel plates. I realised that I had to do something,” Machaea says.
Upon entering the hut, he saw that a bed that used to have proper legs was now supported by old bricks, what used to be a bed frame was now planks, and what used to be a mattress was just a flimsy piece of foam.
He used his radio slot to ask people to help the elderly woman. “On radio I painted a picture of what I had seen and asked people to give whatever they had so that we could help her, as she is someone’s mother.”
Machaea says the response was positive. “People were touched by the story and they donated plates, blankets, clothes and food. Some even knitted clothing for her.
“The excitement on her face was priceless and that made me proud,” says Machaea.
Nojikile Mali, 98, says she has never been happier and thanks Machaea for his generous donation.
“Something inside my soul was touched. I don’t have enough words to thank Mr Machaea. If I had a thousand mouths I would thank him with them,” she says.
Mali says she is also grateful to Mr Mandela for the sacrifices that he made for the poor.
“He went to Robben Island for us, he gave up his freedom so that we could be free and I thank him for that.”
Machaea says he has no words to express how happy he feels to have touched the life of Makhulu Mali.
“Seeing her happy made me realise that even if you don’t have money, you can still go out of your way to help the elderly. I believe that there are blessings in helping older people. I feel like I am on top of the world.”
He believes that what he did was ubuntu. “Ubuntu means that you lend a helping hand not only to people you know but to anyone who can be helped, and I am happy to have helped her,” says Machaea.
He is currently building her a two-roomed house; he also visits and constantly supports her.
For him, Mandela Day means freedom.
“When I was growing up, going overseas was something that we as black people couldn’t do. I am grateful to Mr Mandela for liberating us; now we ride planes like they are taxis, we go anywhere and do everything. More importantly, we are free.”