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Nelson Mandela Day, celebrated annually on 18 July, calls on South Africans to spend 67 minutes making a difference in the lives of others. The 67 minutes symbolise the 67 years Nelson Mandela spent devoted to the fight for social justice, starting with his political activism in 1942. Launched by the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2009, Mandela Day has evolved into a global movement that encourages people to give back, reinforcing the belief that meaningful change often begins with a simple act of kindness.
You don’t have to organise a major fundraiser to make a difference. Volunteering your time, donating essential items or supporting your local community are all meaningful ways to spend your 67 minutes.
Not sure where to start? Here are six ways to make a difference this Mandela Day.
Also read: 9 places to discover Mandela's legacy in Johannesburg
Help pack food parcels with FoodForward SA
Food insecurity continues to affect communities across South Africa, and spending your 67 minutes helping to pack food parcels is a simple but a meaningful way to make a difference. Join hundreds of volunteers at FoodForward SA’s annual Mandela Day Packing Event, where your 67 minutes will help pack nutritious food parcels for vulnerable communities across South Africa.
No special skills are needed, just a willingness to give an hour of your time to a cause that brings people together for a common purpose.
- When: Friday, 17 July 2026
- Where: Gallagher Convention Centre, 19 Richards Drive, Hallway House, Midrand
- Cost: R67 per person via webtickets
Volunteer at the One-Stop Community Care Initiative
Head to Braamfischerville this Mandela Day to support the One-Stop Community Care Initiative, a grassroots project making a difference in the local community. Organised by Hope Restoration Ministries in partnership with People Matter Foundation, the outreach brings together service providers, volunteers and donation drives to support local residents.
Alongside the donation drive, volunteers help hand out clothing and food while legal professionals, healthcare workers and other specialists provide free services to the community. Even if you’re short on time, you can still support the initiative by dropping off donations of non-perishable food or clothing.
- When: Saturday, 18 July 2026, 9am
- Where: BramFischer Multi-Purpose Centre, Braamfischerville
- Cost: Free
Donate blood with SANBS
Just one blood donation can help save lives, and the entire process takes less than an hour. One donation can make a remarkable impact, with each unit of blood potentially helping up to three people in need of medical care. Mandela Day offers the perfect opportunity to become a blood donor and make a contribution that could help someone in need. There are several SANBS donor centres across Johannesburg where you can donate blood over the Mandela Day weekend.
- When: Donor centres are open throughout Mandela Day (hours may vary)
- Where: Various SANBS donor centres across Johannesburg
- Cost: Free
Roll up your sleeves at the Johannesburg Children’s Home
Looking for a hands-on way to spend your 67 minutes? The Johannesburg Children’s Home is calling on volunteers to help brighten the spaces where the children live and learn. The focus this year is on freshening up the home’s living spaces, with volunteers tackling everything from painting exterior walls to tidying up the gardens and deep cleaning the family cottages.
The Johannesburg Children’s Home has been supporting vulnerable children for more than a century, and its cottage plays an important role in creating a safe, stable and welcoming environment. The focus is on improving the children’s living environment, with volunteers working behind the scenes to refresh the Home’s cottages and shared spaces.
Even if you're unable to volunteer, you can still support the initiative by donating painting and cleaning supplies, including rollers, drop sheets, buckets, sugar soap, sponges, cloths and paint.
- When: Friday, 17 July 2026, 9am & 1pm
- Where: 59 Urania Street, Observatory, Johannesburg
- Cost: Free, R60 for optional lunch
Find a volunteer opportunity through ForGood
If none of these ideas quite fit your schedule, ForGood can help you find a volunteering opportunity that does. ForGood’s Mandela Day campaign brings together hundreds of verified volunteering opportunities across Johannesburg, making it easy to find a cause that suits your interests, skills and availability. Search by location, cause or availability to find an opportunity that matches both your interests and the time you have to spare.
- When: Various dates and times throughout the month
- Where: Various locations across Johannesburg
- Cost: Free
Organise your own 67 minutes
Honouring Mandela’s legacy doesn’t have to involve a formal volunteering event. Sometimes all it takes is a small group of people and an hour of their time to brighten a neighbourhood. The possibilities are endless: clean up your local park, prepare sandwiches for a nearby shelter, donate books to a community library, collect blankets for a local charity or provide a hand to an elderly neighbour with groceries or household chores.
The essence of Mandela Day lies in the idea that positive change starts with people choosing to give their time and energy to others. However you choose to spend your 67 minutes, even the smallest act of kindness can leave a lasting impression.
- When: Anytime on Mandela Day
- Where: Anywhere in Johannesburg
- Cost: Free (or the cost of items you choose to donate)
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