A grade 12 learner holds a copy of the Constitution of South Africa at the Brand South Africa Constitution Mondays event in the Eastern Cape. (Image: Brand South Africa)
Johannesburg, Thursday 23 July 2015 – On Tuesday 14 July, Brand South Africa met with top-performing grade 12 learners from rural schools in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape and introduced the Constitution Mondays campaign to them.
Brand South Africa discussed with the learners how national symbols are strong signs of our democracy and so need to be used to build civic pride and patriotism in all our citizens.
Thoko Modise, Manager: Civil Society at Brand South Africa, says: “Through Brand South Africa’s flagship campaign Play Your Part, that aims to create an active citizenry among South Africans, we raised awareness about the importance of knowing the constitution of South Africa. We spoke to the learners about their rights versus personal and individual responsibilities, and we asked them to learn and recite the preamble to the Constitution, as a reminder of the values it stands for in a democracy.”
The Constitution Mondays campaign asks all schools, on the first day of every month, to hoist the flag, read the preamble to the Constitution and sing the national anthem. Through this campaign, Brand South Africa aims to see school learners and civil society groups throughout the country participate in constitutional awareness.
The learners were taking part in an annual educational camp, in partnership with the South African Institute of Charted Accountants and the provincial Department of Basic Education in the Eastern Cape. The camp aims to improve learners’ maths, science and accounting skills with supplementary classes. Apart from academics, learners are also taught life skills. The Eastern Cape 10-day camp caters to 700 learners from Port Elizabeth and the rural Mthatha region and came to an end on Saturday 18 July.
Brand South Africa Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Ms Sithembile Ntombela, added: “An awareness of the country’s heritage and its national symbols is an important element in creating active citizens, committed to the development of their country. It is vital that our young people know what the Constitution stands for and how it came to be so we can be confident they will take this information with them as they continue their journey through life.”
