PRETORIA, South Africa, July 18 (UPI) -- The South African government says government ministers joined in Sunday's nationwide day of public service in honor of Nelson Mandela's 92nd birthday.
Sunday is Mandela Day in South African, which is highlighted by everyone in the country putting in 67 minutes of community service.
BuaNews, the South African government news service, said ministers worked in hospitals, distributed identification cards to rural residents and fixed up school buildings.
U.S. actor Morgan Freeman, who recently played Mandela in the film "Invictus" joined a cadre of motorcycle riders who performed maintenance work on a community health center in Khayelitsha.
The 67 minutes represents the 67 years Mandela has dedicated to public service.
Mandela's long legacy was noted by U.S. President Barack Obama, who said in a written statement issued by the White House that the United States was "grateful to continue to be blessed with his extraordinary vision, leadership, and spirit."
"We strive to follow his example of what it means to truly give back to our communities, our nations and our world," Obama said.
