Mandela Day Under Siege: Legacy Fights Back as South Africa Wrestles with Immigration Debate

Johannesburg, South Africa – As South Africa marks Nelson Mandela Day, the occasion has sparked a polarizing debate about the values the former president embodied. The nation, grappling with deep economic inequality, high unemployment, and widening social divides, is re‑examining how Mandela’s principles apply to contemporary challenges, especially those surrounding immigration.

This year’s contention intensified when the group March and March, known for anti‑immigration protests across the country, announced plans to use Mandela Day as an opportunity to inspect businesses in the Eastern Cape—Mandela’s home province—and identify undocumented workers and allegedly illegal enterprises. The coalition’s tactics have ignited condemnation from the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which argues that exploiting Mandela Day to target migrants contradicts the ideals of dialogue, constitutionalism, and human dignity that defined Mandela’s life.

Rather than devoting the traditional 67 minutes to community service, March and March says it will use the day to physically remove undocumented immigrants from towns and workplaces. The group contends that the government has failed to secure borders, enforce immigration laws, and prioritize employment for South African citizens.

International recognition of Mandela’s legacy dates back to 2009, when the United Nations declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day. The 67 minutes of service symbolize the 67 years Mandela dedicated to public life and the pursuit of justice.

Bhuthezi Buthelezi, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, told Al Jazeera that groups co‑opting the day to target immigrants were transforming a celebration of service into a source of division. “We condemn unequivocally any attempt to use Mandela Day to expel immigrants,” he said. “Such actions are unacceptable and run counter to Mandela’s vision of unity and compassion.”

A country under pressure

The dispute unfolds amid intense economic strain, marked by soaring unemployment, entrenched inequality, and public frustration over inadequate services. Advocates for stricter immigration controls argue that undocumented migrants intensify job competition and strain already limited community resources, urging tighter border management and stricter enforcement.

Critics, however, view the focus on migrants as a diversion from broader governmental shortcomings. “The state’s failures are not the responsibility of immigrants,” Buthelezi emphasized. “Many opportunistic actors are exploiting legitimate grievances about the government’s inadequacies.”

South Africa’s government has denounced xenophobia while simultaneously stepping up immigration enforcement. Authorities report that over 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated under a nationwide migration initiative, primarily to neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.

Despite official warnings against vigilantism, anti‑migrant groups persist in their campaigns. Snuki Zikalala, president of the African National Congress (ANC) Veterans’ League and a former colleague of Mandela, declared that the former president would never sanction the persecution of African migrants. “Not in Mandela’s name,” Zikalala asserted. “People must not invoke Mandela to justify chasing individuals out of South Africa like animals. They are human beings.”

Zikalala acknowledged the ANC’s waning influence and its responsibility for neglecting community engagement, which allowed poor leadership to take root. The party, once led by Mandela until 1997, now governs through a multi‑party coalition and has seen a dramatic erosion of public support.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t fulfill our duty to educate citizens and hold the government accountable for porous borders,” he noted. Zikalala suggested that the ANC views March and March as a vehicle for destabilizing the nation.

The organization’s leaders have repeatedly refuted these claims, insisting that their campaign is solely about prioritizing South African workers.

Who owns Mandela’s legacy?

The controversy has reignited a broader discourse on how Mandela’s legacy is interpreted and mobilized in present‑day South Africa. Neeshan Bolton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, observes that Mandela’s image as a liberation leader is increasingly supplanted by a more generic depiction centered on community service.

“Over the years, we have witnessed a distortion of Mandela’s true significance,” Bolton said. “His identity as a freedom fighter has been gradually erased, replaced by a brand that can be invoked for any service‑oriented cause.”

Bolton noted that Mandela’s name is frequently cited by groups with divergent political agendas, each seeking to align his principles with their objectives.

This year’s Mandela Day theme, “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity,” underscores the nation’s ongoing struggle with inequality, belonging, and accountability. While the Nelson Mandela Foundation asserts that targeting migrants violates Mandela’s tenets, March and March argues that its actions stem from frustration with governmental inaction.

As Bolton concluded, “Everyone has claimed him, reshaping his legacy to suit their own narrative.”

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