Mandela Day: What his legacy means in today’s South Africa

As South Africa grapples with inequality and division, Mandela Day has taken on new political significance.Johannesburg, South Africa – Nelson Mandela Day has become the backdrop for a wider debate in South Africa over the values the former president represented, 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 of March and March, a coalition of anti-immigration activists that has organised 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 target migrants undermines the principles of dialogue, constitutionalism and human dignity that shaped Mandela’s public life.Instead of dedicating Mandela Day’s traditional 67 minutes to community service, March and March says it will use the occasion to physically remove undocumented immigrants from towns and workplaces.The group argues that the government has failed to secure the country’s borders, enforce immigration laws and prioritise job opportunities for South Africans.Nelson Mandela International Day, marked July 18, was established by the United Nations in 2009. The 67 minutes of service are a tribute to the 67 years Mandela devoted to public life and the struggle for justice.Mbongiseni Buthelezi, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, told Al Jazeera that groups using the occasion to target immigrants were turning a day of service into one of division.