Mandela Day 2025: Global call to justice, unity—and free Palestine
JOHANNESBURG / NEW YORK / PALESTINE (MNTV) — On Friday, the world once again unites to honor the towering legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, South Africa’s beloved icon of justice and human dignity.
Declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009, Nelson Mandela International Day marks the birthday of the man who dedicated 67 years of his life to fighting apartheid, poverty, and inequality. The day is more than a remembrance—it is a global call to service and solidarity.
This year, as the United Nations commemorates its 80th anniversary, the day takes on added significance.
In his message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described Mandela’s life as “a triumph of the human spirit,” urging the world to “rekindle our global commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity.”
He called on all nations to be guided by Madiba’s unwavering dedication to freedom, equality, and human rights—principles that remain as vital today as ever.
The 2025 theme—“It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”—serves as both a challenge and a rallying cry. It reminds the world that real transformation does not begin in palaces or parliaments, but in communities, through the collective will of ordinary people.
“We are inviting the world to respond with action,” said Dr. Mbongiseni Buthelezi, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, “to tackle poverty, fight inequity, and build a society grounded in dignity, justice, and shared humanity.”
To honor Mandela’s 67 years of public service, people across the globe are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to community upliftment. From feeding the homeless to organizing literacy drives, the aim is to turn Mandela’s values into action.
South Africa to Palestine: Shared struggle
Perhaps nowhere is Mandela’s legacy more poignantly felt than in Palestine, where the enduring fight for freedom, land, and dignity mirrors South Africa’s own past.
Mandla Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, tribal chief, and ANC Member of Parliament, said that the message of his grandfather was more relevant these days as Israel is operating as a racist state.
“There is institutionalized racism, systematic control of Palestinian life, theft of crops, restrictions on agriculture, and illegal annexations,” he said. “Israel calls itself ‘the only democracy in the Middle East,’ yet denies Palestinians political power and ignores UN resolutions.”
A lifelong advocate for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Mandla Mandela drew clear parallels between Israeli occupation and South African apartheid, highlighting a system that privileges one ethnic identity at the expense of another.
“Apartheid is a crime against humanity,” he declared.
“We, as Africans, understand the pain of colonialism and the brutality of oppressive regimes. We must not rest until we achieve a free Palestine as well.”
His call for global unity echoes Nelson Mandela’s historic words, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
As Mandela Day 2025 unfolds across continents and platforms—from bustling city runs to virtual acts of kindness—it reminds us that the struggle for freedom and equity is far from over.
Whether fighting hunger in local communities or standing in solidarity with oppressed peoples abroad, the spirit of Mandela urges us forward.
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