The recent campaign has been launched by the Mandela family in memory of Nelson Mandela’s great-granddaughter Zenani Mandela, who died in a car crash. Zenani Mandela was killed on June 11, 2010, when the car she was in hit a steel barrier along the M1 north in Johannesburg. The Zenani Campaign, to be led by Zenani’s mother Zoleka Mandela and Grandmother Zindzi Mandela, aimed to improve road safety for children, the family said in a statement. The campaign was unveiled in New York with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and would contribute to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, especially in developing countries. New York is currently hosting the Commission for Global Road Safety. Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele also attended the launch in New York. Ndebele has helped push for pedestrian safety initiatives in SA, and while the new campaign is international, he expects large support from the SA community. The campaign was also a Mandela Day initiative in honour of former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Members of the public were encouraged to wear the Zenani wristband and to call for better child road safety. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/05/02/mandela-family-launch-road-safety-campaign
Although this is a good thing to do, because young people die in the road every day, but this campaign has left so many South African citizens with so many questions and comments. Like, Mhhh, it was Mandela Day now it is going to be (Zanani) Mandela Road Safety Day/Week/Month/Year. And such as was it necessary to launch this campaign in New York, because the little Zanele died in South Africa? And about 20 South African citizens die in the road every day. I believe that if this campaign was launched in South Africa, it would have educated and inspired so many young South Africans, because road accidents are the biggest killer of young people aged 10 to 24 SA. So what is your view or say on this matter?
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| Zanani Mandela |
Although this is a good thing to do, because young people die in the road every day, but this campaign has left so many South African citizens with so many questions and comments. Like, Mhhh, it was Mandela Day now it is going to be (Zanani) Mandela Road Safety Day/Week/Month/Year. And such as was it necessary to launch this campaign in New York, because the little Zanele died in South Africa? And about 20 South African citizens die in the road every day. I believe that if this campaign was launched in South Africa, it would have educated and inspired so many young South Africans, because road accidents are the biggest killer of young people aged 10 to 24 SA. So what is your view or say on this matter?
I think if we could support the Zenani Campaign, that could be the greatest thing to make sure that the accidents issue on roads especially to children is addressed properly and gives full awareness. There is a demand protection for children on the roads. Let us ensure that other families do not have to suffer the pain that the Mandela family suffered, by losing a daughter
ReplyDeleteTHEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE LAUNCH HERE, BUT IF THE LAUNCH WAS BROUGHT HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA IT WOULD BE WRONGFULLY RECEIVED, BECAUSE MANY CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED ON THE ROADS AND NO ONE IS GIVEN THE SPECIAL TREATMENT
ReplyDeleteThe Mandela name is in trouble you know, it is now used for anything especially to get the publics attention, the accident happened here in South Africa but now they go and unveil such campaigns in America, why don't the American's get involvved but do everything about that safety campaign in South Africa?
ReplyDeleteloyiso, i don't think South Africans has a problem supporting the campaign. But their question is was it necessary for the Mandela's to launch it in New York?
ReplyDeleteGift what do you mean when you say it would have been wrongfully received, because Zenani was a South African and she died here in South Africa? which means the campaign was only aimed to America.
ReplyDeleteNkhensani, i agree with you on that one, i mean we just celebrated Freedom Day few days ago, but we are still depending on other countries, Why don't we open our eyes and see that South Africa also need such campaigns for the country to grow and for the young once to get educated about road safety?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Launching the statement in New York is like the Mandela's or the strategist is isolating the incidence from all other road carnages - are we deviating from the cause. I mean irrespective of stature, South Africans from all walks of lives are concerned about road accidents and impact thereof.
ReplyDeleteFor the statement to make the desired impact, I strongly believe that it should have been launched in the country. Media coverage around the statement was not that good.
On the other hand what about parents who loose their children everyday...
Wisani, maybe the Madelasa's were doing it for Americans, not for the poor South Africans.
ReplyDeleteEither way, I presume that the message was intended for South Africans considering that the incident happened in the country. The only laudable thing is that after the incident they didn't just mourn in private but initiated a process to mitigate the growing number of road carnage.
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