The recently-appointed South Africa Ambassador to Qatar Saad Cachalia has invited the citizens and residents of Qatar to join in the celebration of Nelson Mandela Day, by spending 94 minutes helping those who are less privileged.

July 18 has been declared by the UN as International Mandela Day, in recognition of the generous spirit and humanitarian efforts of post-apartheid South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

South Africans usually observe Mandela Day with 64 minutes of community service, 64 being a reference to Mandela’s prison number during his 27 years spent in detention for activism.

In recognition of Mandela’s 94th birthday this year, Cachalia, his family and the South African community will spend 94 minutes working with local charitable organisations in service to the community this Ramadan.

Speaking at his first public meeting with the press, Cachalia said that he spent a previous Mandela Day washing the linen of hospital patients in South Africa.

As Mandela Day is an international celebration, the ambassador has invited the whole Qatar community to join in this charitable work during Ramadan, spare a thought for Mandela and what he stands for, and to try to “live” in the shoes of those who are less fortunate.

The ambassador also touched briefly upon bilateral relations between Qatar and South Africa, who are “building a relationship at an increasing pace”.

Cachalia said: “We are looking at tremendous development in our relationship in terms of trade, in terms of culture, in terms of sport. South Africa and Qatar share a common purpose in terms of development, in terms of our pursuit for peace.”

The importance of Qatar to South African international relations was also emphasised by the joint visit of 10 cabinet ministers, which he said is unprecedented in the history of South Africa.

“We also decided that all the Middle Eastern missions of South Africa will meet here in Qatar in October.”

He also announced a South African cultural week to be held in September, as well as an official handing over of the presidency of the COP 17 climate change congress to Qatar as the president and host of COP 18.

He also promised that more sports teams will visit Qatar, following SASOL’s successful Paralympic basketball team trip. SASOL is a South African chemical company.