On Mandela Day, 18 July 2026, BWI affiliate the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) demonstrated that real change happens when workers stand together and act. Celebrated globally in honour of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of social justice and collective action, Mandela Day calls on people to dedicate 67 minutes to public service, a challenge that NUM answered through meaningful acts of solidarity and community empowerment.

The day began by highlighting women’s workplace safety, reaffirming that protecting women at work is not a "soft issue" but a fundamental labour right. NUM urged members to carry three commitments back to their workplaces and communities: to serve with dignity and treat everyone with respect; to recognise their role in advancing decent work for all; and to lead from where they are rather than waiting for perfect conditions before demanding and creating change.

That spirit was brought to life through the transformation of the Itireleng Association for the Physically Disabled home. Led by 30 NUM-trained TVET college students due to graduate this Tuesday, the initiative delivered six months of groceries, new cupboards, a JoJo water tank, critical electrical repairs, and a new identification board. More than a renovation, it affirmed that disability is never a barrier when communities remove obstacles to restore dignity and inclusion. As the Association’s Chairperson observed, NUM “did not just renovate the home, it renovated the residents’ hope and dignity.”

BWI extends its warmest congratulations to NUM, its leadership, and the outstanding TVET college students for their remarkable commitment this Mandela Day. By turning core union values into tangible community action, NUM has shown what it truly means to lead with dignity, solidarity, and a shared commitment to social justice.