By Charmaine Ndlela
The Nelson Mandela Foundation has officially launched the Mandela Legacy Sporting Series, which brings together four major sporting events aimed at promoting social change inspired by the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela.
The series was unveiled at Sanctuary Mandela in Houghton.
Speaking at the launch, Nelson Mandela Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi said the initiative was a platform for active citizenship and social mobilisation.
“The Mandela Legacy Sporting Series is not simply a sporting calendar. It is a platform for mobilisation, solidarity, and impact,” Buthelezi said.
He said the campaign seeks to encourage South Africans and communities across the continent to use sport as a tool to drive social change while preserving Madiba’s legacy.
Among the key events announced is the Mandela Day Walk and Run, set to take place on 19 July at DP World Wanderers Stadium. Organisers said they were aiming to attract 10,000 participants across the 5km, 10km and 21km categories, with registrations expected to open on 15 May.
The series also includes the Legacy Ride4Hope cycling initiative, which will run from 2 to 5 September. For the first time, the ride will begin in Maputo before ending at Madiba’s Capture Site in Howick.
Founded during the 2018 Madiba Centenary celebrations, Ride4Hope has grown from a cycling initiative focused on donating school uniforms into an educational campaign that has helped build more than 40 classrooms in underserved communities.
The Nelson Mandela Marathon will take place in Cape Town on 18 October and feature 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km races. Event partner Golazo said the marathon would expand internationally from 2027 through the Nelson Mandela Marathon Global Running Series.
The final event in the series, the Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run, will take place on 5 December at the Union Buildings, commemorating the anniversary of Mandela’s death while promoting reflection and national unity.
Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela said the initiatives must honour the values of the liberation struggle.
“We cannot honour Nelson Mandela with just street names and buildings. Their task was to gain freedom, ours is to uphold it and gain a true understanding of what it means to be free,” he said.
