Call for South Africans to Unite for Disability Inclusion This Mandela Day 2025

NCPD launches transformative campaign for Mandela Day, connecting Nelson Mandela’s legacy with South Africa’s flagship disability fundraising initiative

JOHANNESBURG, 27 June 2025 – Picture this: a South Africa where every child with a disability can access quality education, where every adult with a disability can contribute meaningfully to the economy, and where society celebrates difference rather than merely tolerating it. This vision drives the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) as it launches “Beyond the Label: Together We Rise”, a groundbreaking campaign that weaves together Mandela Day 2025’s theme, “It is in our hands to combat poverty and inequality,” with Casual Day 2025’s “Beyond the Label”.

This initiative is not just another fundraising appeal. It’s a clarion call for South African corporations, schools, and organisations to honour Nelson Mandela’s final words—”It is in your hands now”—by joining the country’s most enduring movement for disability inclusion.

From Apartheid’s End to Inclusion’s Beginning: The Casual Day Legacy

When Casual Day launched in 1994, South Africa was taking its first tentative steps towards democracy. Thirty-one years later, this remarkable initiative has raised over half a billion rand, transforming the lives of countless people across the Rainbow Nation. But behind every rand raised lies a human story – like Monica Gerhard from Upington, Northern Cape, who, despite being born without arms and legs, has become a celebrated motivational speaker and radio presenter, or the learners at Fulufhelo Special School in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, who’ve become Casual Day’s top-performing beneficiaries nationally.

Every first Friday of September, millions of South Africans wear their Casual Day stickers not just as fashion statements but as declarations of solidarity with the 7.5% of the population who have disabilities. It’s become more than fundraising – it’s a national moment of recognition that inclusion isn’t optional; it’s essential.

The Human Cost of Exclusion

Consider the stark reality: while South Africa celebrates its democratic achievements, poverty and inequality continue to disproportionately affect persons with disabilities. They face unemployment rates exceeding 90%, limited access to quality education, and barriers that prevent them from fully participating in economic and social life. When Mandela spoke of combating poverty and inequality, he understood that true freedom means freedom for all, including the most marginalised in our society.

For over 85 years, the NCPD has championed this cause, but the journey towards genuine inclusion requires every sector of society to step forward. This is where “Beyond the Label: Together We Rise” becomes transformational on Mandela Day.

A Leader’s Vision Lives On

Nelson Mandela’s wisdom resonates powerfully with today’s inclusion movement. “It is not a question of patronising philanthropy towards persons with disabilities.” They do not need the patronage of the non-disabled for it is not their responsibility to adapt to the dominant and controlling world of those who are considered non-disabled. It is for us to adjust our understanding of a common humanity, to learn of the richness of how human life is diverse, and to recognise the presence of disability in our human midst as an enrichment of our diversity.”

These aren’t merely beautiful words – they’re a blueprint for the South Africa we can build together.

Corporate South Africa: Your 67 Minutes Matter

The “Together We Rise” campaign challenges organisations to transform their approach to disability inclusion. Instead of viewing this as charity, progressive companies recognise that disability inclusion is fundamental to building innovative, resilient, and representative workplaces.

Corporations that participate in both Mandela Day (18 July) and Casual Day (5 September) are not merely fulfilling their CSR obligations; they are actively investing in the economic future of South Africa. Companies like Pick n Pay, Woolworths, and Sanlam have discovered that inclusive practices benefit communities and drive innovation, enhance customer relations, and attract top talent.

Education: Where Transformation Begins

South African schools have a unique opportunity to shape the next generation’s understanding of disability. When learners participate in Casual Day campaigns, they’re not just raising funds – they’re dismantling prejudices and building empathy that will last a lifetime.

Schools like Fulufhelo Special School, which serves learners with intellectual disabilities, rely on Casual Day funding to operate effectively. However, mainstream schools also benefit equally by fostering inclusive environments where all children can thrive.

Real Impact, Real Lives

Every R20 donation creates ripple effects across South African communities. These funds support nine provincial Associations of and for Persons with Disabilities (APDs) and nationwide programmes encompassing workplace access and entrepreneurship, universal design initiatives, and gender-based violence awareness training.

However, the accurate measure of success is not measured in rands and cents, but rather in the achievement of a young person with cerebral palsy who secures their first job, the entrepreneur with a visual impairment who launches a successful business, or the child with autism who finds acceptance in their local school.

Join the Movement That’s Changing South Africa

“Beyond the Label: Together We Rise” isn’t asking for charity – it’s inviting partnership in building the inclusive South Africa that Mandela envisioned, whether you’re a multinational corporation, a small business, a university, or a primary school, your participation matters.

Visit www.ncpd.org.za to discover how your organisation can meaningfully participate in both the Mandela Day and Casual Day initiatives. Access fundraising platforms, awareness materials, and expert guidance to create campaigns that genuinely impact your community while advancing your organisation’s inclusivity goals.

A Nation’s Promise

As we near Mandela Day 2025, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture. We can continue viewing disability as something that happens to “others,” or we can recognise it as part of the human diversity that enriches our nation. We can maintain systems that exclude, or we can build futures that include.

The choice, as Mandela reminded us, is in our hands. But the vision – a South Africa where every person can contribute, participate, and thrive – belongs to all of us.

Together, we don’t just rise. We soar.

How It Works for the Mandela Day Campaign — 3 Easy Steps

Are you prepared to change the way your organisation approaches inclusion? To initiate the process, follow these steps:

1. Create Your Corporate Campaign Page for Mandela Day

Set up your branded campaign on GivenGain using this link: https://www.givengain.com/cause/ncpd

Your team can contribute together while raising awareness and funds in a unified, purposeful way. This isn’t just about fundraising – it’s about building a culture of inclusion within your organisation.

2. Donate & Share on Mandela Day

Make your contribution as an individual or team: https://www.givengain.com/donate/cc/31154#amount

Invite your employees, partners, friends, and family to join the movement. Every pound makes a difference, but every conversation changes minds.

3. Inspire Others on Mandela Day

Share your commitment on social media platforms using this caption:

“This Mandela Day, I’m using my 67 minutes to make a lasting impact for NCPD. Join me in supporting @TheNCPDZA to help make inclusion a reality for children and adults with disabilities.”

Donate now: https://www.givengain.com/donate/cc/31154#amount

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