Various organizations are observing Mandela Day by supporting community projects covering healthcare, education, digital payments, and youth employment.
With South Africans commemorating Mandela Day, entities from the technology, education, financial services, and public sectors are leveraging this annual campaign to assist communities employment
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is donating $40,000 (approximately R660,323) to Rachel Kolisi’s Falling Forward Foundation, aiding its Mandela Day Healthcare Initiative, which is implemented with The Impilo Project. The Impilo Project provides complimentary primary healthcare to underserved African communities, utilizing community health days, door-to-door screenings conducted by trained community health workers, and advanced medical technology. This initiative actively extends dental, medical, and mental health services directly to residents.
This donation finalizes the outstanding funding requirement for this year’s Community Health Day, allowing 670 individuals to receive comprehensive healthcare services, including medical, dental, mental health, and social support.
Rachel Kolisi, founder of the Falling Forward Foundation, stated that this partnership highlights the importance of collaboration. “One thing I have learnt is that we can never create lasting impact alone. Binance stepping in to bridge this gap is a powerful reminder of what is possible when purpose and generosity come together.”
Larry Cooke, Binance’s head of legal, further commented: “Mandela Day is a reminder that service doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to be consistent.”
Separately, payment provider Payfast indicated that digital payment technology assists non-profit organizations in bolstering fundraising efforts and enhancing long-term sustainability. The company reported a 16% year-on-year increase in active Payfast Cause accounts, alongside an 18% rise in transactions, demonstrating increasing public support for charities utilizing digital payment channels.
“Financial services and payment processing are a high-impact variable when it comes to supporting organisations and creating lasting, widespread change,” stated Mpho Sadiki, who serves as MD of Merchant Services for Africa at both Payfast and Network International.
Among the organizations leveraging this platform is Ladles of Love, which has utilized Payfast for online donations since 2018. This Cape Town-based charity currently provides nearly 1 million meals monthly, concurrently assisting food entrepreneurs
Building on last year’s Coding 4 Mandela program, which engaged over 50,000 South African learners, the initiative has expanded into Coding 4 Africa, a continent-spanning program scheduled from July 18 to August 18. Developed from research conducted at Nelson Mandela University’s Department of Computing Sciences, the program employs practical games and classroom exercises to impart coding and computational thinking skills, eliminating the need for computer laboratories.
“At its heart, Coding 4 Africa isn’t about teaching children to code. It’s about helping them become confident problem solvers,” commented Professor Jean Greyling.
The Gauteng Department of e-Government is observing Mandela Day with a community outreach effort at the Amohelang Bophelong Disability Academy in Vanderbijlpark.
In collaboration with VumaCam, the department plans to donate blankets, groceries, and a CCTV camera to the facility, which provides care for 50 elderly residents and 50 individuals with disabilities.
“Building a better Gauteng goes beyond technology. It is also about showing compassion, supporting our communities and restoring dignity to those who need it most,” stated Bonginkosi Dhlamini, the MEC for Gauteng e-Government.
Separately, youth advocacy organization Youth Capital is utilizing Mandela Day to urge the National Treasury to boost funding for public employment programs, contending that recent budget cuts have substantially limited prospects for young individuals.
“We are not asking for charity. We are asking Treasury to fund work that is already being done,” commented Buhlebethu Magwaza, project lead at Youth Capital.
