With the theme “Contributing Towards Dignity and Growing Hope,” the University transformed Mandela Day from a symbolic moment into a tangible movement for community upliftment.
The initiative built on a long-standing partnership with Gelvandale High School, situated in the heart of Gqeberha’s northern areas — a community grappling with structural poverty, crime and food insecurity.
From wellness workshops with elders and persons living with disabilities to revitalising hostel dormitories and hosting a mobile law clinic, the week was a collaborative show of hands, heart and hope.
Speaking at the Friday programme, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa reflected on the meaning of Mandela Day for the institution.
“Today, we not only celebrate the legacy of a global icon, but we also live it. By doing that, we understand that service is a verb. We seek to embody the values of dignity, solidarity and hope that Nelson Mandela championed throughout his life in practical ways during his short life outside prison – not just sitting at his desk, but going out and working for the cause of the most vulnerable. So we seek to do that as a University, as much as we continue to work in the laboratory.”
Throughout the week, University staff, students and various other external stakeholders came together in an integrated effort that saw the delivery of essential goods, gardening tools, IT equipment, legal services and aesthetic upgrades to the school grounds and hostel.
Attendees rolled up their sleeves to clean and landscape school grounds, expand food gardens and restore living spaces — all with the aim of transforming the Hostel of Hope into a safe, nurturing hub for learning and community growth.
“Our presence here is not an act of charity, but of active contribution and true partnership,” Prof Muthwa said.
“It is rooted in our commitment to inclusive access, community-led development and the co-creation of sustainable futures not only for our students, but for this community at large.”
The Mandela Day initiative is part of the University’s broader Vision 2030 and engagement strategy, which foregrounds place-based, sustained partnerships that create real impact.
“The collaboration and partnership we are witnessing here today have grown out of our University’s engagement philosophy of joining with communities, in equalising partnerships, to help address societal challenges,” said Prof Muthwa.
“I want to charge on equalising partnerships, because it is important. As a particular form. And there’s a particular mindset and attitude of engaging with service — in ways that accept and concede that universities do not know enough, and in order for them to do better, they need to work among communities.”
The event was further uplifted by performances from local poets, heartfelt messages of support from stakeholders, and an overwhelming sense of collective action.
Mandela University’s Mandela Day 2025 programme stands as a reminder that legacy is not something to be remembered, but something to be lived. The success of this year’s event is a reflection of what is possible when academia and community work hand in hand to bring about meaningful change.