Every year on July 18th, South Africa and the world pause to honour Nelson Mandela’s birthday, reflecting on his indelible legacy of justice, reconciliation, and service.
It is a day that has become more than just a symbolic gesture but a call to action, a reminder that each of us holds the power to effect change. Yet, as we mark Mandela Day in 2025, we must confront a sobering reality: South Africa stands in a rather difficult place, beset by deepening poverty, persistent inequality, and a crisis of governance and leadership that threatens the very ideals Mandela stood for.
This year’s theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality,” could not be more urgent or more apt. The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s call to action is clear: we must move beyond platitudes and cosmetic charity and, instead, embrace sustained, systemic interventions that address the root causes of our country’s malaise. Mandela himself warned that “it is in your hands to make our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised, irrespective of their identity.”
It is with these words in mind that on the 2025 Mandela Day I will lead ActionSA to play its part in a poor Afrikaner community of Ward 2, Pretoria North, in the City of Tshwane, to participate in a clean-up campaign and renewal. We shall feed the community and repaint some dwellings that have been neglected for many years. We shall do this because while we acknowledge the festering pain of our apartheid legacy, we are not blinded by it to the pain of neglected communities such as the one in Ward 2, Pretoria North, that also form part of our intricate human ecosystem and colourful ethnic kaleidoscope.
Our economic reality remains stark. Our economy is in distress. Growth has stagnated with GDP rising by a mere 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025, and an average growth of just 0.7% annually over the past decade, which is far below the growth of our population. This has led to declining real incomes, ballooning public debt (projected to reach 77% of GDP in 2025), and a national unemployment rate that has climbed to 32.9%, as per the narrow definition of unemployment, with youth unemployment even higher. These are not just numbers; they represent millions of lives that have been blighted by hopelessness and exclusion.
Despite three decades of democracy, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened, and poverty is projected to persist at around 63%, based on the upper-middle-income line. Structural constraints – ranging from unreliable electricity and water supply, as well as a weak business environment and declining state capacity – contribute to the erosion of public trust.
Most distressing is the erosion of state capacity and the collapse of ethical leadership and governance. Recent revelations by KZN police commissioner, Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of alleged deep-rooted corruption in the SA Police Services, do not help. President Ramaphosa’s very weak response to the serious allegations can only be described as a joke, as it doesn’t help restore public confidence in him and the government he leads. Corruption, mismanagement, and the hollowing out of public institutions have left our nation vulnerable. The promise of democracy has been undermined by leaders and public officials more interested in self-enrichment than in serving our people. The social compact between state and citizen, so central to Mandela’s vision of a healed South Africa, has been severely damaged.
Mandela’s Day is not meant to be a once-off, once a year, act of charity or a feel-good exercise carried out for media attention. It is a call for a culture of service, a commitment to social justice, and a challenge to address the desperate plight of the have-nots. The campaign’s central message “Make everyday a Mandela Day”, demands that we confront the causes of poverty and inequality, not just their symptoms. It also means that we must continue to build bridges where there are none, between our communities, and to strengthen those bridges that have become weak over time. We have no choice if we are to get closer to realising Mandela’s dream of a better South Africa for all in our lifetime.
Fortunately, there are still ordinary South Africans, across the country, who continue to embody Madiba’s spirit of service. From Mandela Day Walk & Run in Johannesburg, which unites thousands in acts of kindness, to care package drives for survivors of gender-based violence, to food security initiatives and school partnerships, the grassroots energy for change is palpable. Civil Society, faith-based groups, and community organisations have often stepped in where the state has failed, providing a lifeline for the most vulnerable.
But we must be honest; these efforts, while vital, are not enough. Too often, Mandela Day risks becoming an annual ritual rather than a catalyst for sustained transformation. The danger is that we congratulate ourselves for 67 minutes of service while the structural injustices that Mandela abhorred go unchallenged. In truth, the persistence of poverty and inequality is not inevitable. It is a direct result of policy failure, lack of accountability, and a refusal to confront vested interests. Mandela’s legacy demands more from us: the courage to speak truth to power, the vision to imagine a better, inclusive, future for all, and the discipline to build it, one step at a time. I truly believe that we have it in ourselves to realise this.
As someone who decided back in 2016 to stop shouting from the sidelines, roll-up my sleeves, and enter this complex world of politics, I often ask myself: What would Nelson Mandela make of South Africa in 2025? I truly believe he would be both heartbroken and resolute. Heartbroken at the suffering of millions, at the betrayal of the poor by those entrusted to serve them, and at the corrosion of public trust. But resolute in his belief that ordinary citizens, acting together from across all historic divides, can still reclaim the promise of our democracy. Mandela warned that “there is no easy walk to freedom.” He understood that nation-building requires sacrifice, discipline, and a willingness to put the common good above personal gain. He would challenge us to reject cynicism, to demand accountability, and to rekindle a new form of patriotism to build together.
Any renewal must begin with the restoration of ethical leadership and the return of the principle of equality before the law. A country where the law seems to apply to some and not to others is not the way to go. We also need leaders who serve, not rule; who listen; not lecture; who are accountable to the people, not to self or to corruption networks. This will require a new social contract that is rooted in transparency, merit, and the rule of law.
On this Mandela Day, I call upon all South Africans, starting with members of ActionSA, to move beyond symbolic gestures and recommit ourselves to the hard work of nation-building. Let us honour Madiba not with words, but with deeds – by fighting poverty, confronting injustice, and building a South Africa that lives up to its promise.
Finding Mandela’s Footsteps in 2025 – A Call for Renewal and Accountability
Every year on July 18th, South Africa and the world pause to honour Nelson Mandela’s birthday, reflecting on his indelible legacy of justice, reconciliation, and service.
It is a day that has become more than just a symbolic gesture but a call to action, a reminder that each of us holds the power to effect change. Yet, as we mark Mandela Day in 2025, we must confront a sobering reality: South Africa stands in a rather difficult place, beset by deepening poverty, persistent inequality, and a crisis of governance and leadership that threatens the very ideals Mandela stood for.
This year’s theme, “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality,” could not be more urgent or more apt. The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s call to action is clear: we must move beyond platitudes and cosmetic charity and, instead, embrace sustained, systemic interventions that address the root causes of our country’s malaise. Mandela himself warned that “it is in your hands to make our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised, irrespective of their identity.”
It is with these words in mind that on the 2025 Mandela Day I will lead ActionSA to play its part in a poor Afrikaner community of Ward 2, Pretoria North, in the City of Tshwane, to participate in a clean-up campaign and renewal. We shall feed the community and repaint some dwellings that have been neglected for many years. We shall do this because while we acknowledge the festering pain of our apartheid legacy, we are not blinded by it to the pain of neglected communities such as the one in Ward 2, Pretoria North, that also form part of our intricate human ecosystem and colourful ethnic kaleidoscope.
Our economic reality remains stark. Our economy is in distress. Growth has stagnated with GDP rising by a mere 0.1% in the first quarter of 2025, and an average growth of just 0.7% annually over the past decade, which is far below the growth of our population. This has led to declining real incomes, ballooning public debt (projected to reach 77% of GDP in 2025), and a national unemployment rate that has climbed to 32.9%, as per the narrow definition of unemployment, with youth unemployment even higher. These are not just numbers; they represent millions of lives that have been blighted by hopelessness and exclusion.
Despite three decades of democracy, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened, and poverty is projected to persist at around 63%, based on the upper-middle-income line. Structural constraints – ranging from unreliable electricity and water supply, as well as a weak business environment and declining state capacity – contribute to the erosion of public trust.
Most distressing is the erosion of state capacity and the collapse of ethical leadership and governance. Recent revelations by KZN police commissioner, Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of alleged deep-rooted corruption in the SA Police Services, do not help. President Ramaphosa’s very weak response to the serious allegations can only be described as a joke, as it doesn’t help restore public confidence in him and the government he leads. Corruption, mismanagement, and the hollowing out of public institutions have left our nation vulnerable. The promise of democracy has been undermined by leaders and public officials more interested in self-enrichment than in serving our people. The social compact between state and citizen, so central to Mandela’s vision of a healed South Africa, has been severely damaged.
Mandela’s Day is not meant to be a once-off, once a year, act of charity or a feel-good exercise carried out for media attention. It is a call for a culture of service, a commitment to social justice, and a challenge to address the desperate plight of the have-nots. The campaign’s central message “Make everyday a Mandela Day”, demands that we confront the causes of poverty and inequality, not just their symptoms. It also means that we must continue to build bridges where there are none, between our communities, and to strengthen those bridges that have become weak over time. We have no choice if we are to get closer to realising Mandela’s dream of a better South Africa for all in our lifetime.
Fortunately, there are still ordinary South Africans, across the country, who continue to embody Madiba’s spirit of service. From Mandela Day Walk & Run in Johannesburg, which unites thousands in acts of kindness, to care package drives for survivors of gender-based violence, to food security initiatives and school partnerships, the grassroots energy for change is palpable. Civil Society, faith-based groups, and community organisations have often stepped in where the state has failed, providing a lifeline for the most vulnerable.
But we must be honest; these efforts, while vital, are not enough. Too often, Mandela Day risks becoming an annual ritual rather than a catalyst for sustained transformation. The danger is that we congratulate ourselves for 67 minutes of service while the structural injustices that Mandela abhorred go unchallenged. In truth, the persistence of poverty and inequality is not inevitable. It is a direct result of policy failure, lack of accountability, and a refusal to confront vested interests. Mandela’s legacy demands more from us: the courage to speak truth to power, the vision to imagine a better, inclusive, future for all, and the discipline to build it, one step at a time. I truly believe that we have it in ourselves to realise this.
As someone who decided back in 2016 to stop shouting from the sidelines, roll-up my sleeves, and enter this complex world of politics, I often ask myself: What would Nelson Mandela make of South Africa in 2025? I truly believe he would be both heartbroken and resolute. Heartbroken at the suffering of millions, at the betrayal of the poor by those entrusted to serve them, and at the corrosion of public trust. But resolute in his belief that ordinary citizens, acting together from across all historic divides, can still reclaim the promise of our democracy. Mandela warned that “there is no easy walk to freedom.” He understood that nation-building requires sacrifice, discipline, and a willingness to put the common good above personal gain. He would challenge us to reject cynicism, to demand accountability, and to rekindle a new form of patriotism to build together.
Any renewal must begin with the restoration of ethical leadership and the return of the principle of equality before the law. A country where the law seems to apply to some and not to others is not the way to go. We also need leaders who serve, not rule; who listen; not lecture; who are accountable to the people, not to self or to corruption networks. This will require a new social contract that is rooted in transparency, merit, and the rule of law.
On this Mandela Day, I call upon all South Africans, starting with members of ActionSA, to move beyond symbolic gestures and recommit ourselves to the hard work of nation-building. Let us honour Madiba not with words, but with deeds – by fighting poverty, confronting injustice, and building a South Africa that lives up to its promise.