Every July, South Africans unite in service for Mandela Month, dedicating 67 minutes to honour his legacy. But what if we extended this commitment throughout the year to create lasting change in our communities?
Image: Leon Lestrade / Independent Media
Every July, South Africans roll up their sleeves.
We donate blankets, serve meals, paint classrooms, and give 67 minutes of our time in honour of Nelson Mandela's 67 years of public service.
It is a beautiful tradition that reminds us of our shared humanity. But perhaps the most important question we should ask ourselves is this: What happens in the 68th minute?
Mandela's life was never about symbolic acts. It was about sustained commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity. His legacy was built over decades of sacrifice, not moments of convenience. If we truly wish to honour him, our contribution to society should not begin and end in July.
South Africa continues to grapple with poverty, unemployment, inequality, and social exclusion. According to Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate remains above 32%, with young people carrying the heaviest burden.
These are not problems that disappear after a day of volunteering. They require people who are willing to mentor a young entrepreneur throughout the year, businesses that intentionally create opportunities for emerging suppliers, professionals who freely share their knowledge, and communities that invest in one another long after the cameras have gone.
Entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools we have to combat poverty. Small businesses contribute significantly to employment and economic activity, yet many entrepreneurs struggle to access markets, mentorship, finance, and business development support.
Imagine if every established business committed to mentoring just one emerging entrepreneur by opening its supply chain to a small business or intentionally bought from local enterprises.
Such actions would not only create jobs but also restore dignity and build resilient communities.
True service is not measured by the number of minutes we give but by the lives we help transform. Sometimes it is choosing to buy from a local small business instead of a large retailer.
Sometimes it is helping a young graduate prepare for an interview, tutoring a learner every week, investing time in an aspiring entrepreneur, or introducing a small business owner to a potential client.
These may seem like small actions, but repeated consistently, they become powerful instruments of change.
Nelson Mandela believed that every person could make a difference. He reminded us that overcoming poverty is not an act of charity but an act of justice.
That message remains as relevant today as it was decades ago. Our greatest tribute to him is not a once-off gesture but a lifestyle of compassion, accountability, and active citizenship.
Imagine the South Africa we could build if every individual, business, school, and organisation committed not only to 67 minutes in July, but to 67 moments of intentional service throughout the year. The ripple effect would extend far beyond a single month and begin to reshape communities from the ground up.
This Mandela Month, let us celebrate 67 minutes, but let us not stop there. Let us build businesses that create jobs, mentor entrepreneurs who become employers, and invest in opportunities that outlive us.
The true measure of Madiba's legacy is not what we do for one hour each year.
It is what we choose to do every ordinary day thereafter. Because the South Africa Mandela dreamed of will not be built in 67 minutes. It will be built by millions of ordinary people choosing, every day, to leave the world better than they found it.
Tsakani Nkombyane, Programme Officer at 22 On Sloane.
Tsakani Nkombyane, Programme Officer at 22 On Sloane.
Image: Supplied.
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