In celebration of Mandela Day and 30 Years of Democracy, St John’s College embraced the theme, "Combating poverty and inequality is in our hands". This special day highlights our shared responsibility to support our community and work towards a more equitable society. Our students and staff from across the campus came together in heartwarming acts of kindness to make a difference.
There was loads of excitement during the week leading to Mandela Day as our community prepared for the festivities. Activities included collections, writing heartfelt postcards, and planning events to honour this significant occasion.
Our youngest Johannians in the Bridge Nursery and Pre-Preparatory exemplified generosity by donating soup packets and fresh vegetables, which they carried up to the College. Tutu Quad became a hive of activity as staff took turns peeling and chopping. Our talented chefs in the College kitchen then transformed these ingredients into 450 litres of delicious soup, which was delivered to shelters in our neighbouring community.
The Pre-Prep boys arrived in a burst of colour, wearing their vibrant house shirts—red, blue, green, purple, and orange—symbolising Mandela’s "Rainbow Nation". They formed the number '30' on D Field to commemorate 30 Years of Democracy and created special birthday cards for uTata, adding to the Madiba Magic of the day. “We are privileged to live in a world blessed by Nelson Mandela's existence, and we hope to continue his legacy of service and Ubuntu through great and small acts in our daily lives," said Ms Noluthando Nkuna, Pre-Preparatory Deputy Headmistress.
The Prep Boys paid tribute to 30 Years of Democracy by recreating the iconic queues from the 1994 elections. They lined up to post postcards with messages of hope on a special wall in the new Prep Quad. They also hosted a Gratitude Lunch for the support staff, presenting each with a thank you letter and care package, emphasising that "charity begins at home" and the importance of caring for our immediate community.
We are privileged to live in a world blessed by Nelson Mandela's existence, and we hope to continue his legacy of service and Ubuntu through great and small acts in our daily lives."
College, Sixth Form, and Academy students also wrote inspirational postcards to South Africa, echoing themes of Ubuntu, unity, and resilience—values championed by Nelson Mandela. Mrs Tracy-Lee Edwards and her team placed the messages on display in the Kambule Quad to commemorate Mandela Day 2024 with some being shared by Ms Thabisile Mkhize, Assistant Deputy Head: Transformation and Diversity, during Amphitheatre.
The spirit of Mandela Day at St John's was a testament to the power of community and compassion. Together, we brought joy and nourishment to those in need, reinforcing that each act of generosity, no matter how small, contributes to a brighter, more equitable future for all. “Thank you to everyone who embraced the spirit of generosity and collegiality. As a St John’s College community, we continue to uphold Madiba's vision and strive to create a better world,” said Dudu Mashele, Deputy Head of Diversity and Transformation.
