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This Friday is all about making a difference

This Friday is all about making a difference

The Citizena day ago
This Friday is all about making a difference
This Friday South Africans will unite once again to celebrate Mandela Day, a powerful reminder of the values and legacy of the late Nelson Mandela. While it's important to remember that Mandela Day is not a public holiday, it is a national call to action.
Mandela Day, celebrated every year, honours the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa and a global icon of peace and reconciliation.
The day encourages individuals to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to community service, reflecting the 67 years Mandela spent fighting for social justice.
So, while you'll still need to show up at work on Friday, you can honour Nelson Mandela by dedicating 67 minutes to community service.
Just don't expect a lie-in.
Community news | Clr Conny Nkalitshana and her team did their part in Mandela Day.https://t.co/c75mv2PQWX
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) July 19, 2022
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Mandela Day should be about how we show up daily, not just on July 18
Mandela Day should be about how we show up daily, not just on July 18

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Mandela Day should be about how we show up daily, not just on July 18

In the spirit of ubuntu, Ladles of Love has called on businesses and South Africans everywhere to put compassion in action, this Mandela Day on Friday. The the premise of Mandela Day is simple, yet profound: each of us has the ability, and responsibility to make the world better from wherever we are, says the writer. Image: SUPPLIED Smangaliso Mbili IN A world fractured by polarised politics, deepening inequality, climate disruption and rising violence, Nelson Mandela International Day (Mandela Day) offers more than just an ideal, it offers a necessary recalibration. It reminds us that our humanity is intertwined, that no one thrives in isolation, and that justice, care and mutual dignity must be the foundation of our collective response. It invites us not to ignore the complexity of these poly-crises, but to meet them differently. With humility. With solidarity. With the unwavering belief that I am because you are, that what we do for one, we do for all. I have had the privilege of being part of intentional communities that ground themselves in the values Madiba lived by - values that speak to justice, dignity, service, and ubuntu…our shared humanity. Though he held many roles in his lifetime, Madiba's life was ultimately a testament to his unwavering commitment to dismantling systems of oppression, building bridges across divides, and restoring the humanity of those written out of power and opportunity. Because of this, my interpretation of Mandela Day is anchored in the values he embodied in his service to humanity and the enduring invitation he left with us: 'It is in your hands'. To me, Mandela Day is an annual invitation to pause with intention and magnify service in practice, especially for those most vulnerable and underserved. It is a global moment where I can join millions of people around the globe, to amplify acts of care and solidarity for at least 67 minutes. Acts that restore dignity, affirm humanity, and uphold freedom for all using whatever instrument is within reach. Personally, the magic of this day is found in human connection: in serving and being served, in the sacred bond created when we move towards the needs of others. Yes, I can donate to a cause. But there is something magical and irreplaceable in physically showing up, shoulder to shoulder, in service. I think the premise of Mandela Day is simple, yet profound: each of us has the ability, and responsibility to make the world better from wherever we are. For South Africa, I believe that this culture of service could stretch beyond July 18. It could live in how we lead our daily lives. Yes, we pause everything for one day to serve others, but we could also find ways to embed these values in our rhythms and relationships. Growing up in Soweto, where the neighbour was my keeper and my mother's substitute when she was at work, I say this not to encourage us to start something new, but to continue. To return, if we've deviated. It has always and will always take a village. You might ask, what does an abiding practice of Mandela Day actually look like? It could be greeting the cleaner or security by name, not out of politeness, but out of recognition. Sawubona! Maybe it's mentoring a young person in your circle and checking in consistently. Maybe it's listening, I mean really listening to someone whose voice often goes unheard. It might show up in how we use our voice in meetings to create space for others. In how we challenge injustice in small rooms, long before the big platforms. In how we reimagine care, in our homes, our workplaces, our policies. It lives in the mundane. The relational. The habitual. The decision to see and serve others not just once a year, but every day. And I think it can only be from here, from these small, consistent acts can we begin to see Mandela Day manifest in the ways we want to see the world become, more just, more humane, more worth belonging to. As a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, one of the most enduring lessons from my year in residence was around reconciliation, the dance of navigating complexity, of holding both the light and the shadow. As a young thinker working in long-term systems change, I know the importance of holding complexity, working with patience, and orienting toward structural shifts. That is important, necessary work. But alongside it, we must allow ourselves to find and create moments that expand and enhance our human experience. Moments that let us laugh, connect, dance, breathe. Practising the values of Mandela Day doesn't always look like advocacy or reform. Sometimes it looks like joy. Sometimes it looks like play. Sometimes it looks like choosing community over isolation. And in a country like ours, we need both, I think, the rigour of long-term change and the nourishment of being fully, beautifully human. While there's no doubt that South Africa faces wicked challenges, from deepening inequality to fractured systems, the spirit of Mandela Day reminds us that the work of justice lives not only in grand reforms, but in how we show up, day by day. There is room to practise these values in spaces that may not be about systemic change, but which profoundly shape the texture of daily life. Whether it's in how we greet, include, mentor, or care, these acts, however small, are not insignificant. They are acts of solidarity. Of presence. Of choosing humanity over indifference. Perhaps this, too, is a form of reconciliation, not the kind that denies injustice, but the kind that holds its weight honestly, while still choosing to act with hope. It recognises that systemic shifts are needed, but that small, luminous acts allow us to live the values of Mandela Day in the now, and not just in the not-yet. So wherever you find yourself today, at home, at work, in a taxi, or at a school gate let this be your invitation: Start where you are. Use what you have. Serve who you can. Because Mandela Day is not just about what we do on the 18 July it is about how we choose to show up in the days that follow. May we choose humanity, again and again. Asante sana. Mbili is a Master of Development Policy and Practice student from the University of Cape Town's Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance. CAPE TIMES

Local retailers donate to Bombani shelter ahead of Mandela Day
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Local retailers donate to Bombani shelter ahead of Mandela Day

As Mandela Day edges closer, and organisations ramp up efforts to give back to their communities, Southern Africa Partners (SnAPSA) and two local supermarkets spared a thought for the society's most vulnerable citizens who are affected by the alarming rate of abuse against women and children. On July 14, the community-based non-profit organisation SnAPSA went to Shoprite in Alexandra Plaza and Boxer at the Pan Africa Shopping Centre to collect items donated for the benefit of women and children at the Bombani Shelter—a haven for abused women and children. Shoprite donated preloved clothes, while Boxer donated food items to the value of R600. Read more: Bombani Shelter empower its women to celebrate Womens Month According to Shoprite's store manager, Thabiso Mashitwa, after SnAPSA dropped one of their donation boxes at their store, staff members demonstrated their willingness to donate some of their preloved clothes. She emphasised the importance of their participation, noting that it means a lot to both the store and the staff. 'There are people out there who do not have food or clothes. For the mere fact that we, as Shoprite, can ensure that at least a single child or woman gets clothes to wear, it means a lot. Those who donated, we know that at least one or two children will be able to get clothes,' she noted. She also lauded SnAPSA for the initiative and for involving them in it ahead of Mandela Day. 'I am also grateful to have a team behind me who donated their preloved clothes. I wish we could do more. All I can say [to SnAPSA] is please remember us again,' she said. Boxer's assistant store manager, Gift Maila, also expressed pride in their involvement in the initiative. 'We pride ourselves on giving back to the community. That is our motto; we strive to be the people's champion within the communities we serve. So, us doing this today, giving back, is what we do.' One of the mentors at SnAPSA, Zamashasha Hlengwa, expressed gratitude to the stores for their donations. Hlengwa noted that they will give the donated items to women and children at Bombani on July 17, ensuring that they have a fun day. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

Confronting food insecurity at SA universities during Mandela Month
Confronting food insecurity at SA universities during Mandela Month

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Confronting food insecurity at SA universities during Mandela Month

This Mandela Day, participants' hands can fill plates. Volunteers will be part of a powerful movement, working alongside fellow changemakers to pack essential food items. Image: Supplied Contrary to the stereotype of universities as bastions of privilege, studies show a different – and often grim – reality for many South African students. At universities across the country, levels of food insecurity range from 11% to 38%, which means a significant portion of our future leaders are trying to study on an empty stomach or are distracted from their books by worries over where their next meal will come from. As South Africa and the world commemorate Mandela Month and emulate the spirit of giving that characterised South Africa's first democratically elected president, it is an opportune time to throw a renewed spotlight onto a silent crisis that many of us are not even aware of. Food insecurity is not just about empty stomachs: it impacts mental health, concentration, attendance, retention and even dropout rates. For those who have enough to eat, the benefits are clear: students who are not hungry are nearly twice as likely to progress academically. For the up to 38% facing a degree of food insecurity, lack of adequate nutrition deepens the cycle of inequality, especially among African and first-generation students, undermining the very mission of higher education as a ladder for social mobility. Dr Kgadi Mathabathe, Director: Student Affairs, University of Pretoria Image: Supplied Fighting food insecurity on campus As higher education institutions, in partnership with government, corporate donors and the general public, we need holistic, collaborative and sustainable solutions to help all our students focus on their primary task: gaining the education and skills needed to help steer our country and continent into a brighter future. 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The University of Pretoria is running its annual UP Giving Month campaign during July to support its Student Nutrition and Progress Programme (SNAPP) and the Vice Chancellor and Principal's Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to struggling 'missing middle' students. Dr Kgadi Mathabathe, Director: Student Affairs, University of Pretoria The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Pretoria.

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