mandela day

Photo: Twitter / EnvironmentZA

67 minutes for Madiba: This is how South Africans celebrated Mandela Day

These South Africans joined the world in celebrating Mandela Day.

mandela day

Photo: Twitter / EnvironmentZA

Thursday, 18 July marks former president Nelson Mandela’s 101st birthday. To commemorate his memory, scores of South Africans and activists all of the world have taken the opportunity to commit 67 minutes of their day to do good for the betterment of others, a collective action known globally as Mandela Day.

Origins of Mandela Day

Mandela’s legacy and his global impact are what prompted the United Nations (UN) to coin activities around his birthday, Mandela Day.

Madiba became known as the father of democracy after he advocated for peace, at a time when the international community expected him to initiate a civil war in apartheid South Africa.

He spent 27 years on Robben Island, separated from his family and supporters. His only crime was fighting for equal rights in a society that neglected the rights of black people.

This, and many of the wondrous and selfless acts he committed, was the reason why the UN, in 2009, passed a resolution to declare this day, 18 July, International Nelson Mandela Day.

Therefore, every year, on this day, the world observes Mandela Day with acts of kindness.

What did South Africans commit their 67 minutes to?

Mandela Day kicked off in high spirits on Thursday. People in places where the weather was not so kind did not let the rain ruin their plans of bringing change to those in need.

Organisations teamed up with schools to either clean up communities, and government departments did their bid in doing good for the people too.

Even ordinary South Africans allowed time out of their day to commit to acts of kindness. This is our top picks of all the festivities that took place on Mandela Day: