As part of the celebration of Mandela Month, a project was launched to create a sustainable vegetable garden at the Mercury Hibberdene Children's Home. This initiative, which resulted from the joint vision of the Children's Home and Humanity SA, is intended to benefit long after Mandela Month concludes.
The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Home, which is a foundation of the charitable organization Independent Media Foundation, is located on the picturesque southern coast of KZN. It provides children from low-income families with the opportunity to enjoy a two-day sea holiday throughout the year, ensuring them comfortable accommodation, meals, and participation in mentorship and team-building programs in a safe environment.
The idea for creating the garden arose after Samira Karim, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager and Project Coordinator at Independent Media, proposed the concept to the founder and chairman of Humanity SA, Mohammed Masum Baghdadi.
Karim explained that her idea was to create a self-sufficient vegetable patch. This garden was meant not only to supply the home's kitchen with fresh and nutritious vegetables but also to generate income through the sale of surplus produce. Furthermore, she planned to implement a gardening education program for the children so they could apply the practical skills learned throughout their lives, especially amid the ongoing food insecurity faced by many families.
Thanks to the involvement of Humanity SA, the project quickly gained momentum. The organization mobilized its network of partners, including KZN Slots and Agrisunripe, to realize the vision. Last Thursday, the team gathered at the Home to lay the garden. Volunteers, including children, prepared the soil while the Agrisunripe team planted the first seedlings, sharing knowledge and experience in growing vegetables. The children enthusiastically helped, after which everyone had lunch. They were then pleasantly surprised by gift packs and their own plant growing kits, generously sponsored by SA Sandbags, which encouraged them to continue growing vegetables at home.
Baghdadi emphasized that this project reflects the organization's commitment to achieving meaningful and long-term change. He noted that as part of the annual '67 Minutes for Mandela Day' initiative, Humanity South Africa launched a sustainable vegetable garden at the Mercury Hibberdene Children's Home, affirming its dedication to creating a legacy that extends beyond a single day of aid. He stated that Madiba taught that true service lies in leaving a legacy that continues to support others, and this garden is an investment in the well-being, dignity, and future of the children attending the home.
Baghdadi added that transforming unused land into a productive food garden ensures both nutritional and financial sustainability that will benefit the home in the future. Magentry Mudli from KZN Slots reported that the initiative demonstrates the company's commitment to supporting communities across KwaZulu-Natal. She stressed that the company recognizes the importance of food security and the urgent need for sustainable gardening projects.
Bashika Manisunker, founder and CEO of Agrisunripe, who participated in volunteering with his husband Sunil Manisunker, noted that one of the most rewarding moments was watching the children embrace the opportunity to learn. The couple donated seedlings and fertilizer, teaching the children practical gardening skills. They observed that the children's realization that they could grow some of their own food was the main takeaway. Agrisunripe is proud to support the Mercury Hibberdene Children's Home, believing that food security is critical for NGOs to effectively utilize their resources and provide children with proper nutrition.
Samira Karim expressed gratitude to Humanity SA for its commitment to the project and for bringing in partners. She also thanked KZN Slots and Agrisunripe for their time and generosity, as well as SA Sandbags for sponsoring the growing kits and Pick 'n Pay for the delicious cupcakes that added joy to the day.
As part of Mandela Month, South African youth are demonstrating their activity by addressing issues that have long been discussed by adults. The national school curriculum allows teenagers to actively participate in solving social problems.
Mandela Day is observed on Saturday and is dedicated to the birthday of former President Nelson Mandela. This day calls upon South Africans to spend 67 minutes on charity—one minute for each year he dedicated to public service. This year's theme is 'The fight against poverty and inequality remains in our hands.'
The Future Leaders Challenge program is conducted by AECI in collaboration with Primestars and YouthStart Foundation. Last year, it reached 8,216 students across five provinces. Participants presented 386 projects covering topics such as poverty, lack of hygiene facilities, gender-based violence, drugs, banditry, and elderly care.
The twenty-sixth round of the program is currently underway, which will conclude with a leaders' summit and the Future Leader Awards ceremony in October. Ten teams made it to the shortlist this year. One team developed the Student Helper application, which connects students with teachers, automatically checks homework, and motivates students. Another team, working on the Desk Revival Project, focuses on repairing damaged desks and chairs in schools instead of replacing them.
A student named Talenta Mbatata independently created a panic button application connected to local police stations. Other teams tackled topics rarely covered in schools. BKS Creative Hub uses art and music to discuss substance abuse and teenage banditry. The Her Rise project combines issues of poverty, gender-based violence, mental health, and the status of girls in STEM. The Hands of Change initiative aims to solve the problem of insufficient sanitation facilities in poor schools.
Award recipients do not stop at achievement. Winners receive mentorship through Seed Academy to turn their school ideas into viable small businesses. Organizers are also considering providing seed grants, creating a network of mentors connecting students with AECI staff, and conducting follow-up checks after six to twelve months to assess the sustainability of these ideas. The organizers stated in their submission that 'this is not the end of the road, it is the beginning of real work.'
As part of the celebration of Mandela Day, which is observed annually on July 18th in honor of the life and legacy of the late former president Nelson Mandela, the Sibaya Community Trust in Durban implemented three infrastructure projects.
The South African government declared Mandela Day as a call to action for everyone—people, communities, and organizations—to reflect on Mandela's principles and values. Mandela himself called for the fight against poverty, suffering, and deprivation, stating that 'it is in your hands to make our world better for all, especially for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized.'
The Trust completed these three projects across KwaZulu-Natal, stating that they will directly improve the lives of hundreds of beneficiaries. These include people with disabilities, students with special needs, and cancer patients who require temporary accommodation during treatment.
Vivian Reddy, founder and chairperson of the Sibaya Community Trust, noted that investing in dignity, accessibility, compassion, and hope is a tribute to Madiba's outstanding legacy. One project involved repairing and replacing over twenty windows at the Merewent Cheshire Home, which supports people with disabilities. The Trust also carried out significant renovations and upgrades to this facility, installing steel railings to enhance the safety, accessibility, and mobility of residents.
Furthermore, two new sanitation blocks were built at the West Park Special Needs School. These structures provide safe, accessible, and dignified hygiene conditions for students with various physical and intellectual impairments. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) in Durban received an updated building to house a new six-bed ward. This ward serves as a temporary refuge for cancer patients traveling from remote areas to receive treatment at nearby hospitals.
Reddy emphasized that this compassionate initiative will help alleviate the emotional and financial burden experienced by patients and their families during difficult times. She added that for over two decades, the Sibaya Community Trust has remained true to its mission of transforming lives through sustainable community development. To date, the Trust has invested over 280 million rand in social upliftment initiatives in KwaZulu-Natal.
Food Indaba 2026 is a major event dedicated to sustainable food and culture in Cape Town, where traditions meet an emphasis on water resources, well-being, and community spirit. This annual event takes place from July 20 to August 2 and is organized by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust.
The event is aligned with the spirit of Mandela Day and the principle of Ubuntu. Instead of academic lectures, Food Indaba 2026 offers over 17 immersive events across the City Bowl, focusing on locally sustainable food. This year's central theme is ROAR (Water and Food Systems: Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers, and Precipitation).
As climate change intensifies, collective well-being is being tested. Food Indaba 2026 demonstrates how local communities, urban farmers, and leading chefs collaborate with nature to protect mental, physical, and social health.
Various experiences are offered to understand and support the invisible networks that feed the city, immersing participants in Cape Town's sustainable food cultures.
Walking Gastronomic Tours (July 21–23) are held in the Bellville, Langa, and Central Business District (CBD) areas. These tours differ from standard excursions: participants explore the vibrant informal economy of taxi ranks in Bellville, learn about community-led composting initiatives in Langa, and trace the ancient freshwater sources that sustained the first residents of the CBD.
At the MRKTPLC market (July 25–26) in Makers Landing, visitors can see Cape Town's live food culture before it becomes mainstream. This vibrant market features 15 young food entrepreneurs from lesser-known corners of the city, offering unique snacks, small-batch spices, and traditional pantry items.
Food is viewed not just as energy, but as a carrier of memory, culture, and medicine. Exclusive events explore how the wild South African landscape can contribute to improving our relationship with food consumption.
As part of a workshop at Wolfgat (July 23 at Makers Landing), Chef Kobus van der Merwe and his team leave Paternoester to conduct an intimate and rare lesson in the city. Participants will gain insight into how the menu at their world-renowned restaurant is determined by wild coastal ingredients, Strandveld succulents, and small-scale sustainable fishing.
The World of Mouth: Wetlands Within event (July 25 at Tauyaa Wine Room) is a multi-sensory, story-based dinner prepared by Li and Lerato Waters-Myn (Mpintshi Yum). The menu, created using carefully sourced ingredients and a traditional herbal tea ceremony, beautifully illustrates the journey of water through the earth, the human body, and collective memory.
High-energy workshops have been developed to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens, turning sustainability into a game.
At the WATERLESS Cooking Jam youth food fair (August 1 at Soute by Food Jams), forty teenagers will be challenged to create an incredible dish without using any water. Instead, they will study methods of perspiration, pressing, and steam capture to extract moisture directly from raw ingredients.
For children aged 6–12, there is an interactive WATER Lab (August 1 at Cape Town Science Centre) that makes water conservation tangible and edible. Children will learn how desert plants, coastal fog, and local knowledge help conserve water in challenging conditions.
For those who wish to feel more grounded and inspired, opportunities are provided to step away from screens and connect with those who grow our food. 'Tea with a Farmer' sessions (August 1 at Oranjezicht City Farm and Langa) invite conversation with passionate urban growers over freshly brewed herbal tea. This space is for discussing water-wise agriculture, local cultural knowledge, and the benefits of being on the land for mental health.
A panel discussion on regenerative agriculture (July 23–26) is designed for an in-depth exploration of well-being theory. These panels bring together soil specialists, ethical consumers, and food writers to discuss the real challenges of responsible sourcing and changing the world through narrative.
Food Indaba is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Mandela Day by interacting with the people who are making our food systems stronger, smarter, and more unified.
