Thanda commemorates Nelson Mandela Day

Thanda Foundation Trust is recognising Nelson Mandela day and contributing to 67 minutes by attending the official opening of the Mvezo Komkhulu Museum and unveiling of a Nelson Mandela Statue at Mvezo, Eastern Cape, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela.

Attended by Pierre Delvaux, Chairman of Thanda Foundation Trust, on behalf of its Swedish founders, Dan and Christin Olofsson, this opening is the culmination of over six years of work and committed fundraising.

The project has been initiated and tirelessly driven by the grandson of Nelson Mandela, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, whose wish it was to honour his late grandfather and the people of Mvezo with the opening on Mandela day, being the day of his late grandfather’s birth.

The Thanda Foundation Trust has contributed some R2,4m to this project as well as having contributed one of only 3 Nelson Mandela Statues, life-size replicas of the six metre statue at Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg, sponsored by the Olofsson Family and Thanda. The Trust also facilitated further assistance from the Swedish Postcode Lottery, who contributed some R1,1m to this project.

The unveiling of the Nelson Mandela Statue and opening of the Museum will be officiated by the State President of South Africa, Honourable Jacob Zuma.

It is a privilege and great honour to be a part of this project and occasion that brings the world’s focus to the birthplace of South Africa’s greatest man. The Museum pays tribute to the contribution of Nelson Mandela to his people, the Abathembu Tribe and the role that his birthplace at Mvezo played.