Mandela Day 2025: It’s Still in Our Hands

As we mark Mandela Day, we’re reminded that South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. While debate over exact figures continues, the lived reality is undeniable.
A friend’s Grade 7 child went on two school trips within the last 2 weeks- together costing over R25 000. Another friend, a security guard, works 12-hour night shifts for just R100 a shift, below the minimum wage, doing whatever it takes to support his children.
The cost of those school trips nearly equaling an entire year of income for the other family.
That’s inequality. And it’s not abstract - it’s deeply personal.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What difference can we make?
A lot. And I’m not talking about making sandwiches for an hour on Mandela Day.
Mandela once said,
“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.”
I’m grateful for our team at ReStory, who work daily to challenge injustice - whether by equipping orphaned and vulnerable children to thrive, supporting unemployed young adults into new trajectories, or confronting the systems and structures that entrench inequality.
And I could name countless individuals and organisations doing the same.
But not everyone is called to work in the non-profit space.
All of us are called to fight injustice. And often, that starts not with big moves, but with small, intentional daily choices. We’ve given a starting point which we hope you, and your families, will find helpful.
Justice is not charity.
It’s about restoring dignity, righting relationships, and recognising the worth of every person.
This Mandela Day, let’s take steps - big or small - to grow a culture of justice and equality right where we are.
It’s still in our hands