Causes to support for Mandela Day

Food drives, beach clean-ups, fundraisers and more

Last updated: Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Celebrate the legacy of Nelson Mandela by turning your 67 minutes into something meaningful. From food-packing drives and beach clean-ups to beading circles and community fundraisers, Cape Town is filled with various ways to make a difference while creating moments of joy. See some of our top picks for how you can spend your Mandela Day. 

WALK THE ROAD TO FREEDOM

This Mandela Day weekend, visit Long March to Freedom and walk through South Africa’s journey to democracy among 100 life-size bronze statues of iconic men and women who shaped our history. Enjoy free Mandela-themed guided tours, family-friendly games and colouring competitions for children, plus House of Mandela Wine by D’Aria tastings – hosted by The Wine Spot – for just R20 per glass. It’s a meaningful way to spend 67 minutes learning and reflecting on our democracy.

Date: Saturday, 18 July and Sunday, 19 July
Time: 10am to 4.30pm
Location: Century City, Cape Town
Cost: South African visitors: Entry by donation. International visitors: R75 (guided tour included)

Century Boulevard | Century City | @longmarchtofreedom | Image: Long March To Freedom

PROTECT THE CAPE’S COASTLINE 

Join the Two Oceans Aquarium for a Mandela Day beach clean-up at Monwabisi Beach and help remove pollution that threatens marine life and coastal ecosystems. Volunteers will spend 67 minutes making a direct impact on the environment while enjoying time by the sea. Plus, an educational children’s book will be donated to an under-resourced school for every person in attendance. Bring a bucket, hat, drinking water – and don’t forget your friends and family, too!

Date: Saturday, 18 July
Time: 9am to 11am
Location: Monwabisi Beach
Cost: Free

@aquariumfoundation | Image: Two Oceans Aquarium

SERVE BREAKFAST IN OBS 

Help prepare and serve breakfast for the unhoused community in Observatory with local NPO Obs Can Feed You. Tickets for their special Mandela Day fundraiser start at R67, with all proceeds supporting the initiative. Donations of essential supplies such as oats, brown sugar, paper cups and disposable spoons are also welcome. Come back in the evening for more fun at Trenchtown, featuring great food, drinks and live music. Can’t make it this weekend? No problem, since the team serves breakfast every Saturday and Sunday from 8-10am.

Date: Saturday, 18 July
Time: 8am to 10am
Location: Trenchtown, Observatory
Cost: Tickets start at R67. Book on Quicket

Trenchtown | Lower Main Rd | Observatory | @obscanfeedyou | Image: Obs Can Feed You

JOIN A MEANINGFUL BEADING CIRCLE 

Ikamva Labantu’s 67 Gogos campaign invites you to spend 67 minutes learning from the generation who lived through the history of South Africa’s democracy. At their Living Legacy Centre in Woodstock, you can sit alongside township elders, hear their stories and craft your own 67-bead bracelet, or donate essential goods. Donations and funds go towards supporting over 2 700 elders in Khayelitsha.

Date: Friday, 17 July
Location:  Ikamva Labantu Living Legacy Centre, Buchanan Square, Woodstock
Cost: From R267 per person. Book via the Ikamva Labantu website

1st Floor | Hills Building | Buchanan Square | 160 Sir Lowry Road | Woodstock | @ikamva_labantu | Image: Ikamva Labantu
 

BRING JOY TO LITTLE PATIENTS

The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital is celebrating not just one day of Nelson Mandela, but two weeks. From 13-24 July, they’re inviting businesses, teams, families, and individuals to visit the ward and support children receiving care and their families during challenging times. Bring along soft toys, activity books, colouring supplies and your warmest smile.

Date: Monday, 13 July to Friday, 24 July
Location: Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch
Contact: Schedule a visit by contacting Taryn at taryn.rubenstein@chtrust.org.za

Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital | Klipfontein Rd | Rondebosch | @childrenshospitaltrust | Image: Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital

ASSEMBLE JUSTICE PACKS

This Mandela Day, Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust is inviting the public to help assemble Justice Packs for survivors of sexual assault. Each pack contains snacks, refreshments, sanitary products and other essentials that provide comfort during court proceedings. You can volunteer at the Justice Pack Drive, donate items for inclusion in the packs, or make a financial contribution to help ensure survivors receive practical support throughout their journey to justice.

Date: Friday, 17 July
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: 2U offices, Salt River
Contact: Jameelah Ismail, Rape Crisis Fundraising Officer via email jameelah@rapecrisis.org.za 

2U offices | Victoria Rd | Salt River | @rapecrisis_capetown | Image: Rape Crisis Cape Town

SAVE THREE LIVES

Set aside 30 minutes this Mandela Day to donate blood and help save up to three lives. The Western Cape Blood Service is encouraging Capetonians to give back through one of the simplest acts of service – and as an added bonus, donors who bring a first-time donor buddy between 13-18 July will receive an electric hot water bottle, perfect for Cape Town winter.

Date: Monday, 13 to Saturday, 18 July
Location: Find your nearest blood donation clinic via the WCBS website
Cost: Free

@thewcbsofficial | Image: Western Cape Blood Service

GET HANDS-ON AT DHL STADIUM

Join one of Cape Town’s biggest Mandela Day gatherings at DHL Stadium with Ladles of Love. Volunteers can choose between four zones focused on supporting the nutrition and education of 20 000 preschool children in under-resourced communities. Help make sandwiches, pack nutrition boxes, create teaching aids or build Grow Boxes with vegetable seeds for urban farmers supplying preschools.

Date: Friday, 17 July 2026
Timeslots: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Location: DHL Stadium, Green Point
Cost: R300 per person, R200 for students. Book tickets via the Ladles of Love website 

DHL Stadium | Green Point | @ladlesoflove | Image: Ladles of Love

TURN ELECTRONICS INTO POSITIVE CHANGE

Clear out your drawers and help save the environment through E-Waste Buddies’ Mandela Day collection drive by donating old phones, chargers, laptops, cables and other unwanted electronics. Bring your e-waste between 8am and 12.30pm to have it responsibly recycled instead of ending up in landfill, and receive a reward per kilogram collected. Then, stick around and take part in 67 minutes of live appliance dismantling. It’s an easy way to clear out your home while creating lasting environmental impact long after Mandela Day is over. 

Date: Saturday, 18 July 2026
Time: Collection drive starts at 8am to 12.30pm
Location: E-Waste Buddies, YWC House, Oude Molen Eco-Village, Pinelands
Cost: Free 

Pinelands | @e_waste_buddies_za | Image: E-Waste Buddies

GIVE THE GIFT OF ART

The Norval Foundation is inviting the public to support their Give the Gift of Art campaign and help bring an inspiring museum visit one step closer to children who might otherwise never have the opportunity to experience it. In the spirit of 67 minutes, the foundation aims to raise R67 000 for its Learning Centre Education Programme, which welcomes school groups from under-resourced communities on a weekly basis. Every donation helps cover transport, guided tours, art workshops and snacks.

Donate: See more information on the Norval Foundation website

Norval Foundation Art Museum | Steenberg Rd | Tokai | @norvalfoundation | Image: Norval Foundation

PACK FOOD PARCELS

Volunteers across Cape Town are coming together at the Century City Conference Centre to turn 67 minutes into meaningful action at FoodForward SA’s Food Packing Event. Gather your family, friends or colleagues to help assemble food parcels for vulnerable communities. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. It’s a simple, family-friendly way to turn your 67 minutes into meals for South Africans facing food insecurity. 

Date: Friday, 17 July 2026
Time: 9.30am or 11.30am
Location: Century City Conference Centre
Cost: R67. Book via Webtickets 

Conference Centre | 4 Energy Lane | Century City | @foodforwardsa | Image: FoodForward SA

By Jodie van Heerden

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