Mandela Day brings joy, hope and giving to palliative care patients

The event reflected the true spirit of Mandela Day, according to ERPC.

July 24, 2026

Fanie Mthupha 1 minute read

a pile of donated goods — Donated items will help raise funds for East Rand Palliative Care through its charity shops.

Learners, teachers and parents from St Dunstan’s College, together with ThirtyOne 3 Coffee, celebrated Mandela Day by giving back to the community through a heartwarming initiative in support of East Rand Palliative Care (ERPC).

The special morning, held on July 17, combined generosity, entertainment and meaningful connection as the school community supported the centre’s Bring-a-Thing campaign before spending time with day care patients.

The day began at St Dunstan’s College, where families donated good-quality items they no longer needed.

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The donated goods will be sold through ERPC’s charity shops, helping to raise much-needed funds to continue providing palliative care and support to patients and their families across Ekurhuleni.

Adding to the uplifting atmosphere, the St Dunstan’s marimba band entertained attendees with a lively performance, while ThirtyOne 3 Coffee treated learners, parents and staff to coffee and hot chocolate.

The marimba band added a lively rhythm to the Mandela Day celebrations.

According to ERPC, the event reflected the true spirit of Mandela Day.
The celebrations continued when learners visited ERPC’s day care patients. Through poetry, speeches, singing, dancing and dramatic performances, they brought smiles, laughter and joy to those attending the programme.

Learners brought smiles and laughter to patients through dance and dramatic performances.

ERPC marketing and media liaison Jonquil Siepman thanked everyone who contributed to the initiative and embraced the spirit of service.

“Mandela Day reminds us that everyone has something meaningful to contribute, whether it is an unused item, a talent, their time or simply their presence.
“The generosity shown through our Bring-a-Thing campaign, together with the joy the learners brought to our day care patients, made this a truly special morning

“Thank you to the learners, parents and staff of St Dunstan’s College, as well as ThirtyOne 3 Coffee.
“It was a morning of energy, kindness and shared purpose that Madiba would certainly have been proud of,” she said.