By Destine Nde
In a time when the global community is facing seeming insurmountable problems – worsening poverty, inequality and deprivation; wars and conflicts; and the mass displacement of millions of people — the need to commemorate Nelson Mandela Day has become greater than ever.
Nelson Mandela International Day became an official United Nations (UN) event in November 2009. Since then, 18 July is celebrated annually worldwide. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the Eastern Cape. The first global celebration of this date happened on his 91st birthday, in 2009.
It is a global event because the UN General Assembly recognises Mandela’s contributions to global peace, democracy, reconciliation, human rights and conflict resolution. Thus the idea behind the event is not just the remembrance of a great man, but to perpetuate the values he stood for, and tried to inculcate in South African society and elsewhere.
That is why on this date individuals across the world are called to dedicate 67 minutes to any form of service to their communities, for the 67 years Mandela spent doing the same—public service. He was indeed a paragon of equality and human rights. In fact, 18 July 2009 was the first time ever that the UN dedicated an international day to an individual. No other universal icon has his name flashing on street posts and buildings like Mandela. Countless streets, buildings, airports, parks, stadiums, organisations and foundations on every continent are named after him.
He might have died 13 years ago, but his core values still live on, resonating in powerful words that he uttered with a passion and conviction like no other: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony, and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” This in his famous statement from the dock in the 1962 Treason Trial.
So the siren call during Mandela Month is to act upon the impression — to perform a meaningful service to one’s community, no matter how small. This might sound simple, but it’s the first and most significant way for individuals, communities and organisations to honour the life and legacy of Mandela. A reflection on his values and principles will remind us that to be a leader means to be a servant.
In fact, this Mandela Month, the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched the inaugural Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum in New York. Its aim is ‘to explore the kind of leadership needed to meet the defining challenges of our time’.
Given the growing anti-foreigner sentiments, scapegoating and exclusion in South Africa and the West, the need is greater than ever for an occasion like Mandela Month: it promotes solidarity, transcends racial and cultural barriers, and embraces the concept of shared humanity. Mandela himself said that “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
As such, this year, the Mandela Foundation called upon the public to act appropriately: “It is still in your hands to combat poverty and inequity, they wrote on Mandela Day News, pointing out that “The call to action is as broad and as inclusive as possible—identify those in need around you and do what you can to make a difference with them and for them.” This is exactly what Willowmore SAPS did over the weekend.
On Friday 17 July, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Willowmore served bread and soup to hundreds of children at the Morningside Community Hall. This step was taken a day ahead of Mandela Day to raise awareness and sensitise the public about its significance. Accordingly, speeches were made, and anecdotes told, to instruct the children about the heroes—the central players in the fight for freedom—and the values that shaped the struggle.
They were made to realise how important it is for them, the younger generations, to the values and the spirit of freedom alive. It is the birthright for all future generations to receive their ‘inalienable’ rights, and hence the responsibilities of present generations to carry, protect, and hand over the same to them. They were told to honour the day because Mandela was the incarnation of these foundational values of freedom and equality for all, quoting another of his famous speeches to drive the point home.
“We have at last achieved political freedom. We commit ourselves to free all people from poverty, suffering, gender and other discriminations. We promise that we will built a society in which all South Africans, black and white, can walk tall, with no fear…. We know that none of us alone can achieve success. We must therefore work together as one people. … Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all.’
The Willowmore United Cricket Club (WUCC) partnered with the SAPS in this initiative. On their Facebook page they thanked everyone who participated or contributed to the success of the event in one way or another: “To everyone who donated, assisted with preparations, served soup, or simply showed up to support the initiative, we thank you. Your generosity and community spirit are what make Willowmore so special. At WUCC, we believe that cricket is much more than what happens on the field. It is about building friendships, uplifting our community, and living the values of respect, teamwork, and Ubuntu”.
On Monday 20 July, the SAPS complemented their initial efforts by hosting a School Holiday Fun Programme at the police station. The programme was aimed specifically at providing children with information relevant to their safety, and do so in a fun-filled atmosphere
The children were taught what steps to take when they have been wronged in any way, namely to report this to family members, teachers, pastors and social workers. They were also cautioned not to walk alone on the streets, especially at night. The SAPS emergency number was also distributed.
The School Holiday Fun Programme in progress at the Willowmore police station.
After that the children watched a movie, while enjoying popcorn and fruit juice. The Station Commander, LT Col Winnaar, was in charge of everything and, under her purview, it was a great success. She has even launched a donation campaign aimed at providing young girls with sanitary pads for school this term. (To donate, contact Lt Col Winnaar at 082 529 2440, or CPO Cst Barkley at 076 225 0557).
If relativrly simple acts of humanity and generosity like this coulc be repeated in communities around the world, the cumulative impact would be massive.
President Cyril Ramaphosa joined thousands of South Africans on the streets of Johannesburg for the 2026 Mandela Day Walk and Run. The annual commemoration echoed the same themes of freedom and equality, and calling on South Africans to help built a more just, caring and equitable society through service to others.
“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world,’ Mandela said in his Victory Speech in 1994. Above all, young people should be taught that the values Mandela espoused, lived by and sought to inculcate in South African society cannot be achieved by people acting on their own, but only by people acting together.
FEATURED IMAGE: Children waiting for bread and soup at the Morningside Community Hall. All images: the author.