Edition July 2025

The Struggle stalwarts of South Africa played a crucial role in the fight against apartheid and the journey towards democracy. Their sacrifices, bravery and determination paved the way for a more just and equal society. We recognise that their legacy continues to inspire and motivate us to build a better future for South Africa.

Each year in July, we pause to commemorate and celebrate the life of our iconic founding democratic President, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We honour his legacy through acts of service, reflection and renewal.

Although 18 July is globally recognised as Nelson Mandela International Day, we carry the selfless spirit of Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela throughout our daily lives with citizens and institutions extending continuous acts of human kindness, interconnectedness and respect in the spirit of Ubuntu which contributes to lasting impact in the development of our communities.

Mandela Month is a national moment of reflection and renewal – a time to remember that Nelson Mandela’s legacy is not just to be celebrated, but to be lived. This year’s theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity,” calls us to recommit to the values that Tata embodied. It serves both as a reminder – that while progress has been made, the work is far from finished – and as a challenge, urging us to act with urgency, compassion and integrity.

As we observe Mandela Month, we are reminded of his powerful words: “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made, and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings”.

These words serve as a clarion call, urging us as public servants to act with urgency, empathy and resolve.

Despite the progress made by government since 1994, poverty remains a persistent and painful reality for millions of South Africans. According to the World Bank, 63.5% of our population is projected to live in poverty in 2025, based on the upper-middle-income poverty line. This places us among the most unequal societies in the world, despite our economic potential.

According to Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate stood at 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, with youth unemployment at a staggering 46.1%. The informal sector accounts for 19.5% of total employment, highlighting the precarious nature of work facing many South Africans.

These are not just statistics – they represent families struggling to put food on the tables, young people losing hope and communities being left behind. They reflect how the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality continue to define our national struggle. Through targeted programmes which respond to the needs of citizens government remains committed to ensuring that citizens are empowered to better build their lives and that of their communities.

In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that the Government of National Unity will place inclusive growth at the centre of the national agenda.

In line with Priority 2 of the Medium-Term Development Plan – Reduce Poverty and Tackle the High Cost of Living – since 1994 government has used various mechanisms to redistribute resources to the poor. In addition to social grants, the government has provided free basic services, healthcare, education and subsidised housing to poor South Africans, to dismantle the structural barriers that keep people trapped in poverty.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa affirmed in his 2025 SoNA: “Today, we spend around 60% of our national budget on the social wage: on health, education, social protection, community development and public employment programmes. Through these programmes, we are alleviating the worst effects of poverty. We are providing the means through which South Africans can rise above the poverty that has been passed down from one generation to the next”.

South Africa’s Presidency will be the first time an African country has presided over the G20. South Africa has adopted the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’ for its G20 Presidency. This underscores the importance of solidarity in creating an inclusive future that upholds the best interests of those who are at the greatest risk of being left behind. Further, promoting equality, ensures fair treatment and equal opportunities for all, thereby breaking divisions of economic status, gender, race, geography or any other. The inclusion of Sustainability emphasises that in meeting the needs of the present we cannot compromise the future generations.

If there is one lesson we should take from Former President Mandela’s legacy, it is that leadership is not about position, but about purpose. As public servants, we are the stewards of that purpose. The success of government’s anti-poverty programmes rests on empowering citizens as active participants in our development democracy. To ensure success, leaders, managers and officials in the public sector must:

• Ensure that resources are used optimally with the purpose of reaching the intended beneficiaries without delay,
• Monitor and evaluate programme outcomes to ensure purposeful implementation of programme that address a need of the citizens, and rooting out corruption both in the public service and in our communities,
• Collaborate across departments and spheres of government to deliver integrated services, and
• Listen to the needs of communities and adapt interventions to respond to the needs of citizens.

Let us honour Madiba, not only with words but with our actions. By asking ourselves: what is in my control? what can I do, in my role, to ensure that our policies translate into real, measurable change? – so that each of us contributes towards building a public service that is ethical, responsive and committed to the people we serve.

Let us ensure that the fight against poverty is not just a policy goal, but a lived reality for every South African. Because poverty is man-made – and so are the solutions.❖