Mandela Day: A contested legacy in modern South Africa
In South Africa, Mandela Day has become a flashpoint over immigration policy, as an anti-immigration group plans to use the occasion to remove undocumented migrants, drawing condemnation from the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Nelson Mandela Day, established by the United Nations on July 18, has become a backdrop for broader debate in South Africa about the values the former president represented, as the country grapples with inequality, economic frustration and growing divisions over how to address social problems.
This year, the debate has been sharpened by the decision of March and March, a coalition of anti-immigration activists, to use Mandela Day activities to physically remove undocumented immigrants from towns and workplaces, focusing on the Eastern Cape, Mandela's home province. The group says it will replace the traditional 67 minutes of community service with enforcement actions.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation condemned the move. CEO Mbongiseni Buthelezi told Al Jazeera that groups targeting immigrants on Mandela Day are turning a day of service into one of division. "We condemn that unequivocally. That is unacceptable," he said.
A country under pressure
The dispute comes as South Africa faces high unemployment, inequality and frustration over public services. March and March argues that undocumented migrants contribute to job competition and strain communities with limited opportunities, calling for tighter border controls.
Buthelezi said the country's challenges should not be blamed on migrants. "The failings of the state are not the responsibility of immigrants in South Africa," he said. The government has condemned xenophobia while stepping up enforcement, deporting over 53,000 foreign nationals since a nationwide operation began.
Who owns Mandela's legacy?
The controversy has revived debate over how Mandela is remembered. Neeshan Bolton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said Mandela's identity as a liberation fighter has been stripped away and replaced with a simplistic image of service, allowing any group to claim him.
Snuki Zikalala, president of the ANC Veterans' League and a former colleague of Mandela, said Mandela would never have condoned targeting African migrants. "Not in Mandela's name," he said. He also criticized the ANC for failing to remain active in communities and allowing poor leadership.
