Hundreds of volunteers leave a lasting legacy at Soweto primary school this Mandela Day

Hundreds of volunteers from leading South African organisations came together this Mandela Day to transform Thathani Primary School in Zola, Soweto, through the Adopt-a-School Foundation, a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, and its annual Back to School for Mandela Day campaign.

Led by Headline Sponsor AngloGold Ashanti, alongside Cell C, ROMH Consulting, Thrive Student Living, Growthpoint Properties, Timberland South Africa, Thamani Assurance Inc., HONOR, Execuflora, and the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, the campaign demonstrated the power of collaboration to create brighter learning environments and lasting opportunities for learners.

Creating Lasting Change

Throughout the day, volunteers refurbished classrooms and Grade R facilities, established a sustainable vegetable garden, supported learner wellbeing initiatives, donated books to strengthen the school's library, facilitated coding and robotics activities, and participated in literacy programmes designed to benefit learners long after Mandela Day.

Steven Lebere, Chief Executive Officer of the Adopt-a-School Foundation, said, “The success of this year's campaign demonstrated that Mandela Day is about creating opportunities that extend well beyond the annual 67 minutes of service.

Mandela Day reminds us that meaningful change begins when people choose to act. By investing our time, skills and resources in schools, we are investing in the future of every learner. Together with our partners, we are creating environments where children feel valued, inspired and empowered to succeed."

Tumelo Shakwane, Vice President: Group Community Relations at AngloGold Ashanti, said the initiative reinforced the importance of investing in education to build stronger communities.

"Education has the power to change lives and strengthen communities. Our long-standing partnership with the Adopt-a-School Foundation reflects our commitment to creating opportunities that extend beyond Mandela Day. By working alongside our partners and volunteers, we are helping to create learning environments where young people can thrive and realise their full potential."

Community Support

The day was also supported by the Adopt-a-School Foundation's Friends of the Foundation – actress Ayakha Ntunja (Youngins, Inimba), actor Tshepiso Jeme (Inimba, iThemba) and actor Julius Kgole (Skeem Saam) – who volunteered alongside learners and partners, encouraging South Africans to embrace the spirit of Mandela Day through service.

Partners contributed in various ways to enrich the day's activities.

Timberland South Africa donated books for the school library and learners to enjoy at home, while Cell C, supported by Seseko, introduced coding and robotics experiences that exposed learners to future-ready digital skills.

Nal'ibali inspired a love of reading through engaging literacy sessions, Krispy Kreme donated 1,000 doughnuts, Val Aqua provided 400 bottles of water, Marketing to the Max treated learners to popcorn and slushies, and TG Tracking continued its longstanding support of the Foundation's work.

Lethiwe Hlatshwayo, Managing Executive Corporate Affairs at Cell C, says:

"At Cell C, we believe connectivity is about more than technology; it is also about creating access to opportunities that can transform lives. This Mandela Day, our partnership with the Adopt-a-School Foundation is helping create an environment where learners can grow through technology experiences that can unlock and harness new knowledge and potential.

We're particularly excited about the Coding and Robotics Bootcamp aimed at equipping young people with the digital skills and confidence to thrive in a digital world."

Bradley Maseko, Director at Sesko says,

“Seseko is a South African EdTech organisation dedicated to bridging the digital divide in underserved communities, delivering innovative STEM education and immersive learning experiences that prepare young people with the skills required for a technology-driven future.”

Impact on the School Community

Mrs Msibi, Principal of Thathani Primary School, said”,

The initiative had made a meaningful difference to the school community.

For our learners, Mandela Day is about much more than renovated classrooms or donated books. It is about knowing that people believe in their potential. The support of the Adopt-a-School Foundation and its partners has left a lasting impact on our school community and reminded every learner that they are capable of achieving great things."

This year's campaign brought together 267 volunteers from 18 partner organisations to benefit 535 learners through a combined investment of R1.3 million.

The initiative has created a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit the school community long after Mandela Day.

Ongoing Refurbishment

While the Mandela Day activities have concluded, the Foundation's work at Thathani Primary School continues.

Refurbishment works over the coming weeks will include replacing damaged classroom floor tiles and doors, upgrading external walkways, installing a water back-up system, and improving drainage around the Grade R classrooms and play area to ensure a safe and sustainable learning environment.