Johannesburg, South Africa – Nelson Mandela Day has become the backdrop for a broader debate in South Africa about the values the former president stood for, as the country grapples with inequality, economic frustration and growing divisions over how to address social problems.
That debate has been sharpened this year by the decision by March and March, a coalition of anti-immigration activists who have organized protests across South Africa in recent months, to use Mandela Day activities to inspect businesses in towns across the Eastern Cape, Mandela's home province, and identify undocumented workers and businesses they allege are operating illegally.
The move has drawn condemnation from the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which says using Mandela Day to attack immigrants undermines the principles of dialogue, constitutionalism and human dignity that shaped Mandela's public life.
Instead of dedicating the traditional 67 minutes of Mandela Day to community service, March and March says it will use the occasion to physically remove undocumented migrants from cities and workplaces.
The group maintains that the government has failed to secure the country's borders, enforce immigration laws and prioritize job opportunities for South Africans.
Nelson Mandela International Day, commemorated on July 18, was established by the United Nations in 2009. The 67 minutes of service are a tribute to the 67 years Mandela dedicated to public life and the fight for justice.
Mbongiseni Buthelezi, executive director of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, told Al Jazeera that groups using the occasion to attack migrants were turning a day of service into one of division.
“What we see now is something quite divisive and unhelpful, and it's something we absolutely condemn,” he said. “We have seen some groups say they are going to use Mandela Day to rid cities of immigrants. We condemn it unequivocally. That is unacceptable.”
A country under pressure
The dispute comes as South Africa faces intense economic pressure, including high unemployment, inequality and frustration over public services.
March and March argues that undocumented immigrants contribute to job competition and put pressure on communities already struggling with limited opportunities. The movement has called for tighter border controls and stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
Critics say immigrants have become a focus of anger over broader government failures.
Buthelezi said South Africa's economic and social challenges should not be blamed on migrants.
“We are living in a very difficult time in which many opportunistic actors are taking advantage of the very real complaints that many people have about the failures of the State,” he said. “But we need to separate those two things. State failures are not the responsibility of immigrants in South Africa.”
The government has condemned xenophobia while increasing enforcement of immigration control measures. Authorities say more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated since a nationwide immigration operation began, mainly to neighboring countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
Authorities have also warned communities not to take the law into their own hands, but anti-immigrant groups have continued to organize their own campaigns.
African National Congress (ANC) Veterans League president Snuki Zikalala, who served alongside Mandela, said the former president would never have tolerated the targeting of African migrants.
“Not in the name of Mandela. People should not use the name Mandela. We cannot drive people out of South Africa like they are animals. They are human beings,” he said.
Zikalala said the ANC, the party Mandela led until 1997, bore some responsibility for not remaining active in communities and allowing poor leadership to take hold. The party has seen a huge decline in support and currently governs the country through a multi-party coalition.
“It is disappointing that we have not done our job as ANC to raise awareness among citizens, but also the government, for allowing porous borders.”
He said the ANC believed March and March were a group used to destabilize the country.
The organization's leaders have repeatedly rejected those accusations, saying their campaign is focused solely on putting South Africans first.
Who owns Mandela's legacy?
The controversy has reignited a broader debate about how Mandela is remembered and used in today's South Africa.
Neeshan Bolton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, told Al Jazeera that Mandela's identity as a liberation leader has been increasingly overshadowed by a simpler image focused on community service.
“What we have seen over the years is the distortion of what Mandela meant to this country,” Bolton said. “His identity as a liberation fighter has gradually been stripped away and replaced with something that can be used for any and all acts of service.”
Bolton said Mandela's name is often invoked by groups with opposing political positions.
This year's Mandela Day theme, “It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality,” comes as South Africa continues to grapple with issues of inequality, belonging and responsibility.
For the Nelson Mandela Foundation, using Mandela's name to justify attacking immigrants contradicts the principles for which he fought. For March and March, the campaign reflects frustration with a government they believe has failed to act.
As Bolton warned: “Everyone has been able to claim it and interpret it in the way that suited them best.”
