Hamba Bamba Funda (HBF), Heartlines, the City of Johannesburg, The Flower Foundation and Dance Spirit SA will come together to honour the power of connection, presence and nurturing fatherhood. A collective commitment to strengthening families and shaping one equal tomorrow.

This year’s Nelson Mandela Day celebration will take place on 18 July at the Meadowlands Welfare Centre in Zone9 Soweto, where fathers and babies will gather for a transformative program centred on presence, bonding and community support.

This year promises to be extraordinary as the program places a powerful spotlight on the importance of a father’s presence in a child’s earliest years. In a world where many children grow up without consistent paternal involvement, this gathering aims to celebrate, support and uplift fathers as essential pillars in early childhood development. To extend the impact beyond the walls of the venue, the event will be live‑broadcast, enabling people across the country to tune in and share in the spirit of Mandela Day.