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National Casual Day is observed by South Africans across the country on the first Friday of September. It is a fundraising initiative to raise awareness about persons living with disabilities by the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
It’s democracy’s twin in a way because the first Casual Day was in 1994, the same year that this country cast its first democratic vote.
This year’s commemoration takes place tomorrow on 4 September. Since launching in 1994, National Casual Day has worked with a system of simply donating a few rands towards a sticker. On the first Friday of September, people wear their stickers prominently on their clothing to show solidarity with the movement.
But as time went on, things changed and instead of donating any random amount of money, R10 was set as the standard.
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The economy changed, inflation happened, the price gradually increased and currently sits at R20. Casual Day stickers can be purchased at any participating retailer like Toys R Us / Babies R Us, Clicks, Pick n Pay, Jet Stores, Jam Clothing and others.
Because South Africans are known to be a stylish bunch, Casual Day is celebrated in themes and this year’s aesthetic is Beat as One: Rhythm Matters. Whatever your interpretation of this rhythm, it’s an opportunity to make memories with a fun, musical or rhythm-inspired outfit.
Casual Day falling on a Friday also means most workplaces are going to be relaxed and workers will be permitted to leave office attire at home and rock up in their casual clothes, sneakers or creative outfits. It’s an Instagrammable day to take pictures and post them across social media platforms under the hashtag #CasualDay.
Since inception, Casual Day has raised over half a billion rands, making it the most prominent and successful social advocacy campaign in the country.
The proceeds have made a big difference for persons with disabilities, supporting them with assistive devices, housing, skills development, Gender-Based Violence Support Services, children’s programmes and other forms of support.
Some of the institutions supported by the NCPD through Casual Day are the South African National Council for the Blind, Down Syndrome South Africa and Fulufhelo Special School in Limpopo. The Nelson Mandela University (NMU), Wits and other universities are supported with dedicated accessibility offices on their campuses.