From the Northern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, teams from different agri departments and agencies across the country got their hands dirty doing good deeds in honour of former president Nelson Mandela.
National agri minister Thoko Didiza visited Qunu in the Eastern Cape where she was joined by Madiba’s grandson and politician Mandla Mandela, as well as the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and rural development, Nonkqubela Pieters.
Their Mandela Day activities included some repair work and donations in the community of Madiba’s birthplace, while Didiza’s deputy, Mcebisi Skwatsha, travelled to Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape to do repair work on a local crèche and sign a long-awaited agreement.
Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela welcomes Minister Thoko Didiza and the Eastern Cape MEC for rural development and agrarian reform, Nonkqubela Pieters. 
Minister Didiza delivers the keynote address at the Nelson Mandela Day commemoration in Qunu village. 
Minister Thoko Didiza getting ready to give an old building a new coat of paint. 
Minister Didiza getting to work in Qunu on Monday (18 July 2022). 
Deputy minister Mcebisi Skwatsha and Bitou executive mayor Dave Swart started their 67 minutes of service at the Kurland Educare Centre in Plettenberg Bay. 
Deputy minister Skwatsha spending some time with the kids of Kurland Educare Centre. 
Deputy agri minister Mcebisi Skwatsha and Bitou executive mayor Dave Swart signing a donation agreement. The department donated land to the municipality to build low-cost houses for the Kurland community. 
The national department’s deputy director-general for rural development, Nomtandazo Moyo, presides over the opening of the Narysec Youth Leadership Programme and hands over food donations to the Faith Ministries Orphanage in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
Provincial projects
In the Northern Cape, the provincial department of agriculture, environmental affairs, rural development and land reform hit the road to several districts to establish food gardens, conduct a rabies vaccination drive, dish out something to eat and even to do a spot of painting.
MEC Mase Manopole sent a delegation to Barkley West where a team of officials also did renovation work on ten residential houses.
In KwaZulu-Natal, agriculture and rural development MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi visited Qedusizi Primary School in Nquthu to plant vegetables.
Casidra, a governmental rural development agency in the Western Cape, handed over 180 packs of school stationery worth R40 000 to the Pebbles Project, a non-profit that works in the agricultural sector.
The agency also delivered garden compost and tools, and prepared vegetable gardens, at the Raithby Methodist Church in Paarl.
Here are some more picture highlights from yesterday’s government projects.
A team from the John Taolo Gaetsewe district spent their time with community members of Magojaneng near Hotazel. 
The team planted cabbage, spinach, onions and beetroot seedlings. 
Apart from the plantings, the department also donated water tanks, dustbins, garden tools and netting. 
Some staff started doing food garden preparation work last week already. 
Two state veterinary teams conducted rabies vaccination drives in the Northern Cape on Monday. 
About 750 dogs and 20 cats were vaccinated as part of the Mandela Day rabies vaccinations in Barkley West. 
The two vet teams were stationed at different locations in Barkley West. 
Team agriculture, environmental affairs, rural development and land reform was hard at work renovating ten houses in Barkley West. 
Department officials served hot meal to the community of Barkley West. 
Northern Cape officials also donated health packs to women and girls in need. 
A team from the ZF Mgcawu district got busy painting and putting up a shade net at a local school in Askham, where they also donated garden tools for the food garden and planted trees at the local church. 
The team to Barkley West was led by Frances Baard district mayor Unondumiso Buda and Dikgatlong mayor Joyce Tshwanage. 
Frances Baard district mayor Unondumiso Buda sow the first seeds of a newly established backyard garden project. 
KwaZulu-Natal agriculture and rural development MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi lending a helping hand at Qedusizi Primary School in Nquthu.
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