Awareness, Campaign, Events, Impact, News articles
From Resilience to Record-Breaking: Casual Day’s Remarkable Recovery Journey to Impact
Jan
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, South Africa’s flagship disability awareness campaign was on the verge of collapse. Income plummeted 77% to R6.7 million, creating a R7.3 million deficit. Today, Casual Day projects record-breaking income of about R23.9 million for 2025-2026.
A Movement That Transforms Lives
Since launching in 1994, Casual Day has become a national movement. Every first Friday of September, South Africans wear the iconic sticker and themed merchandise, creating solidarity through workplaces, schools, and communities.
Income has recovered from R29.5 million pre-pandemic to R9.5 million in 2021-2024, then R19.6 million in 2024.
“We are kindly encouraging everyone to purchase themed merchandise with stickers for complete expression of disability awareness,” says Therina Wentzel, NCPD National Director. “Every T-shirt, every cap becomes a conversation starter about inclusion.”
The Power of Pro Bono Media Partnerships
Radio stations across South Africa offer pro bono airtime worth millions in advertising value. SABC stations, including RSG, Thobela FM, Munghana Lonene FM, and Metro FM open doors to disability storytelling. Community stations like Radio Turf 103.8 FM have committed to Memoranda of Understanding with NCPD.
JCDecaux provides billboard campaigns visible in urban centres nationwide.
“The moment we mention Casual Day, stations immediately offer airtime,” explains Bernadette Rigney, NCPD’s PR and Communications Manager. “This airtime provision and other media partnerships have enabled us to articulate our messages of awareness and calls to participation.”
RTT Group: Delivering Inclusion to Every Corner of South Africa
Since 2025, RTT Group has served as the official courier for all Casual Day stickers, merchandise, and documents—a 100% sponsorship valued at over R1 million per annum. This partnership eliminates geographical barriers that previously limited rural participation.
“We are deeply grateful to RTT Group for making Casual Day accessible to all South Africans,” says Wentzel. “Their partnership ensures merchandise reaches every corner efficiently and affordably.”
For NCPD’s Casual Day, RTT Group’s sponsorship means unprecedented reach. Previously, courier costs consumed significant resources. Now, every rand saved flows directly to schools, APDs, and organisations serving persons with disabilities.
“Supporting Casual Day reflects RTT’s values and our people’s promise,” explains Nathaniel Ballakistein, Group Sales and Marketing Executive at RTT. “We are enablers of positive change.”
An Ecosystem of Impact
Since 2016, Casual Day has distributed R58 million across South Africa’s disability sector, with 45% to external beneficiaries and 55% retained for broader advocacy and admin requirements.
Distribution flows to SAPS and the Department of Defence (3%), National Beneficiaries (14%), nine Provincial APDs (15%), and non-profit organisations, schools, and retailers (68%).
Fulufhelo Special School: Excellence in Action
In Thohoyandou, Limpopo, Fulufhelo Special School consistently emerges as South Africa’s top Casual Day fundraiser, serving 875 learners with 58 educators. Between 2019 and 2025, the school has demonstrated what becomes possible when Casual Day resources meet community commitment.
Year after year, from 2019 through 2025, Casual Day funds have supported the school’s Technical Occupational Curriculum (TOC) programme—a vocational education pathway that equips learners with intellectual disabilities with practical skills. Each year, the school invests in TOC learner materials for hands-on projects, industrial machines for curriculum development, and take-home projects that extend learning beyond the classroom.
Principal Mr M. Ramaano explains, “These resources are lifelines. We serve learners with intellectual disabilities requiring specialised equipment that government funding alone cannot provide. When our community witnesses learners mastering skills, they understand their investment is nation-building.”
The community has rallied with Fulufhelo Special School on this journey. Parents support Casual Day by purchasing merchandise for their learners and for themselves, and they assist in finding donations for the school’s annual Casual Day celebrations. Supporting schools across the Vhembe District purchase Casual Day merchandise through Fulufhelo Special School. Local companies contribute by donating water and beverages, along with financial donations.
In a notable partnership, the 15 South African Infantry Battalion (15 SAI) has adopted the school, donating fruits and tents and celebrating Casual Day with the school community during the school’s annual fun walk. The Traffic Department, Emergency Services, and Toyota also support the fun walk, with Toyota leading the procession with branded vehicles and providing financial support.
The NCPD’s Comprehensive Mandate
For 86 years, NCPD has been the authoritative voice in South Africa’s disability rights landscape. Established in 1939, the organisation coordinates advocacy through nine provincial APDs with programmes including economic empowerment supporting over 2,000 entrepreneurs with disabilities, Nappy Run, Va Va iYouth, Road to Independence, gender-based violence prevention, and accessibility audits.
Vision and Efficiency
Looking towards 2029-2030, NCPD targets R57 million in Casual Day revenue, enabling significant programme scaling. Strategic focus centres on implementing the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensuring UN Convention commitments translate into reality.
Current projections show a 43% net profit margin with costs 43% below 2019 levels, ensuring maximum resources reach beneficiaries.
An Invitation to Partners in Transformation
The NCPD invites interested parties to join the value chain of this transformative fundraising project. Opportunities exist for organisations to sponsor or support—whether in cash or in kind—to achieve NCPD’s deliverable projects and make a measurable impact in disability rights and inclusion efforts.
Corporate partners can contribute through financial sponsorship, pro bono services, logistics support, media partnerships, skills development programmes, or assistive device donations. Every contribution strengthens the ecosystem that empowers persons with disabilities to access education, employment, and economic participation.
The former South African statesman, Nelson Mandela, captured the essence of this work when he said, “It is not a question of patronising philanthropy towards disabled people. They do not need the patronage of the non-disabled. It is not for them to adapt to the dominant and dominating world of the so-called non-disabled. It is for us to adapt 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.”
Mandela also affirmed that “disabled children are equally entitled to an exciting and brilliant future.” This vision drives NCPD’s work and invites partners who share this commitment to join in creating that future.
For partnership enquiries, contact simon.manda@ncpd.org.za or +27 11 452 2774
A Call to Action
As Casual Day 2026 approaches on 4 September, participation creates transformation. “Casual Day’s pandemic recovery demonstrates South African resilience,” Wentzel reflects. “That’s the South Africa we’re building—one sticker, one conversation at a time.”
Visit www.ncpd.org.za for more info. Follow @thencpdza on social media platforms for updates. Together, South Africa can ensure persons with disabilities are embraced as essential contributors to the nation’s future.