South Africa is today marking Nelson Mandela International Day – a global day of service observed every year on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of South Africa's first democratically elected President.
People are marking the day by dedicating 67 minutes to acts of community service, while commemorative events are taking place in several countries.
In South Africa, communities, schools, businesses and organisations are taking part in food donation drives, clean-up campaigns, tree-planting initiatives, blood donation drives and volunteer projects.
As part of the country's Mandela Day commemorations, President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the launch of the Unserved Communities Access Acceleration Programme in Hammanskraal, Gauteng.
The programme, which aligns with Mandela Month, aims to accelerate the rollout of vital water infrastructure to historically marginalised communities. It forms part of the Presidential Water Crisis Committee's long-term goal of delivering sustainable, decentralised groundwater treatment to rural and peri-urban areas.
The initiative is a key government intervention aimed at restoring dignity and combating deep-seated poverty, while advancing the 2026 Nelson Mandela International Day themes of equality and active citizenship.
Meanwhile, thousands will gather at the DP World Wanderers Stadium for the annual Mandela Day Walk & Run on Sunday, a celebration of unity, purpose, wellness, and the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela. Inspired by Madiba's famous walks through the streets of Houghton, this iconic Johannesburg event invites South Africans from all walks of life to quite literally walk in the footsteps of Tata Madiba.
Cape Town is hosting its annual Mandela Day Langtafel, where thousands of people are expected to gather around a giant communal table to share a meal and celebrate unity, while the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day campaign continues collecting and distributing handmade blankets to vulnerable communities across the country.
International commemorations are taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on people everywhere to carry forward Madiba's vision of a more just, equal and peaceful world. In his Mandela Day message, the Secretary-General reflected on Nelson Mandela's belief that ending poverty is not an act of charity, but an act of justice.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation this week launched the inaugural Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum in New York, creating a new international platform for conversations about the leadership challenges shaping the world today. The inaugural Forum featured New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani as the Distinguished Speaker, continuing the Foundation's longstanding tradition of convening influential voices to engage with some of the defining questions of our time.
Earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africans to use Mandela Day not only as an opportunity to perform acts of service, but also to renew the country's commitment to tackling poverty, inequality and injustice.
In his weekly newsletter, the President said the annual commemoration should inspire both individual acts of kindness and collective action to address the root causes of inequality.
He reminded South Africans that the United Nations declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009, making it a global day of action dedicated to advancing Madiba's legacy through the fight against poverty, inequality and injustice.
President Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to dedicate their traditional 67 minutes to helping those in need by feeding the hungry, supporting the elderly, comforting the lonely or volunteering their skills to organisations serving local communities.
However, he stressed that the late Madiba viewed the eradication of poverty as an act of justice rather than charity, saying the country must recommit itself to ending poverty and inequality.
The President said addressing inequality also requires changes to global financial systems and stronger international cooperation. He noted that South Africa is working with international partners to establish an International Panel on Inequality to monitor global inequality, assess its causes and recommend policies to reverse it.
At home, President Ramaphosa said government must continue investing in education, healthcare, skills development and social protection, while creating conditions that support investment, job creation and economic growth.
He said the spirit of Mandela Day should extend beyond acts of service, with South Africans working together to build stronger institutions and a more just and inclusive society.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that "it is now in your hands", urging citizens to ensure their acts of service contribute to building a better country and a better world for all. – SAnews.gov.za
