NELSON Mandela Day will be celebrated in Buffalo City, as in the rest of the country and internationally, with municipal employees and members of the community giving 67 minutes of their time to a worthy cause.

The City is calling on all its citizens to recognise each person's ability to make an imprint and bring change in the world. On the day each year, people around the world are urged to spend 67 minutes doing something for others, to mark the 67 years of his life Mandela gave to fighting for human rights.

It is held on his birthday, 18 July, which this year falls on Sunday. He will turn 92. The day is also set aside to connect communities in various ways to act on Mandela's values. The aim is to empower every individual to make a change.

According to the Nelson Mandela Day website, the day is a global social movement, an umbrella idea that does not discriminate. It embraces every organisation that does good, while enabling people to serve their community and improve their lives.

Buffalo City is also taking part in the initiative, with three clean up campaigns - at the Breidbach Cemetery, Potsdam Play Park and Masizakhe Children's Home.

Nelson Mandela Day has been created to inspire people from every corner of the world to embrace the values that have embodied Madiba's life - democracy, equality, reconciliation, diversity, responsibility, respect and freedom, according to the day's website.

It stresses that the day is not a holiday; it is a time for everyone to opt in and show that we can all make an impact.

In its effort to follow its theme for the current financial year, Buffalo City responded to the national call from the South African Local Government Association to commit itself to go into over-drive in changing people's lives. This year's theme for Buffalo City is "Service delivery in overdrive".

The cleaning and beautification of the Breidbach Cemetery near King William's Town will take place on Friday, 16 July at 9am; the clean up and handing over of equipment at Potsdam Play Park will also take place at 9am. The Masizakhe Children's Home in Mdantsane clean up will follow at 11am.

According to the press statement issued by the City, municipal officials will help with grass cutting, picking up litter, beautification and tree planting. Hundreds of volunteers from the surrounding communities armed with spades and rakes are invited on board in support.

On Saturday, the rural community of Tyutyu North, near Bhisho, led by the local Methodist Church and Buffalo City, will rehabilitate the local play park with various activities planned to take place as part of the Madiba birthday celebrations.

These activities include tree planting, installation of park equipment and furniture, as well as beautification of the area.