#67Minutes: South Africans Channel The Madiba Spirit To Serve Communities This Nelson Mandela Day
It’s that time of the year once again, and Mzansi folks have rolled up their sleeves and hit the streets to make their communities a better place this Nelson Mandela Day.
Much more than being a struggle icon, Tata Madiba’s legacy has been one of unity that transcends societal constructs, of the outward expression of love for fellow people, and of compassion towards those in need. Since 2009, the 18th of July, Mandela’s birth date, has been designated as Nelson Mandela Day, an occasion celebrated and observed locally and internationally through acts of goodwill and welfare as a way of keeping the torch of humanity passed down by Tata burning to light up communities.
Nelson Mandela | SUPPLIED
Why 67 Minutes Specifically?
The “67 Minutes” campaign which exists within the context of Nelson Mandela Day is predicated on the idea of serving others, even if it is only for 67 minutes, in the same way Mandela was of service in his fight against social injustice for 67 years.
Although the 18th is not a public holiday in its traditional sense, the concept of Nelson Mandela Day being included as a day among other holidays was to foster the spirit of service and self-sacrifice that requires people to deny themselves fun which is synonymous to holidays in favour of doing something good and constructive for the benefit of the community, if not only for one other person.
“The Mandela Day Campaign message encourages people to use 67 minutes of their time to support a chosen charity or serve in their local community. The 67 minutes symbolically represent the number of years the former President fought for human rights and the abolition of apartheid,”
– according to the South African Government on the significance of the day
Through the years, South Africans and respecters of Mandela and his legacy worldwide have continued to make positive impacts within their communities by dedicating just 67 minutes of their time. From sacrificing those extra minutes of sleep in the morning just to help street sweepers clean up the roads to lending a helping hand to community kitchens that help feed the homeless, people have remained faithful to the themes of selflessness, generosity, and grace, ideals entrenched within the day’s identity.
South Africans took to X to share how they’ve spent their 67 Minutes for Mandela this year.
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala shared photos of himself hard at work at the Pauline Podbrey Foundation with the caption: “In Khayelitsha #MandelaDay2024 #67Minutes #ItsInYourHands.”
Metro FM shared pictures of blankets and the entrance of the Soweto Home for the Aged with the words: “#BestMornings. Good morning, Besties. We are broadcasting from Soweto Home [for] The Age[d] for Mandela Day and to donate blankets and to cook for the elderly. Let us know what you are doing for Nelson Mandela Day.”
Students and staff members from the University of Johannesburg shared several pictures of themselves busy as bees with the caption: “UJ staff and students out and about for Mandela Day. What have you done for your 67 minutes?”
@MagnaCarter_RM shared a post of members of NPO members from Ladies of Love serving their community. The post said: “Celebrating Nelson Mandela Day with @ladiesoflove. How are you spending your #67Minutes to honour Madiba’s legacy? Let’s inspire each other to take action and create positive change!”
This year’s Nelson Mandela Day will be accompanied the Nelson Mandela Day Walk & Run which will be held on the 20th of July 2024 at the DP World Wanderers Stadium. People that will participate in the initiative were free to choose the distance they’d like to do for the event, with the range being: 5KM, 10KM, and 21KM.