Nelson Mandela legacy and commitment to justice, equality and human rights

As we commemorate Mandela Day 2025, we join people around the world in reflecting on the values Nelson Mandela championed. As an academic institution, we are honoured to carry his name through the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town. 

In 2019, the United Nations officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating the birthday of uTata Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected President. This day is referred to as Mandela Day, serving as a global call to action for individuals to contribute to making a positive impact. In this opinion piece, Smangaliso Mbili, an alumnus from the School, outlines how to make a meaningful impact: Start where you are, use what you have, and serve those you can.

Mandela Day also encourages a moment of reflection; we invited some of our alumni and current students to share their thoughts on Nelson Mandela’s legacy and what this day means to them.