For the second consecutive year, 67 Blankets for
Nelson Mandela Day and City Sightseeing Johannesburg have joined forces to take
one of Johannesburg's most colourful Mandela Day activations onto the city's
iconic red open-top bus.
On Saturday, July 18, volunteers, KnitWits, media
and partners will depart from Rosebank aboard the City Sightseeing Johannesburg
double-decker bus, travelling through the Johannesburg, streets including areas
such as Munro Drive, Braamfontein and Zoo Lake, sharing warmth, hope, and
kindness through the much-loved Secret Scarves Shhh... campaign.
Along the route, brightly coloured handcrafted
scarves, each carrying a handwritten message of hope, will be tied in public
spaces for anyone needing warmth to take. The journey celebrates Nelson
Mandela's belief that small acts of kindness can make a lasting difference
while showcasing the power of collaboration between organisations committed to
giving back.
The Secret Scarves Shhh... campaign has become one
of 67 Blankets' best-loved Mandela Day traditions. Every scarf is lovingly
handmade by the 67 Blanket volunteers across South Africa and left with a
simple message inviting anyone who needs it to take it.
Annie Robinson Grealy, Chief Operating Officer of
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, says: "Mandela Day reminds us that
kindness is something we do, not something we simply talk about.
"We are incredibly grateful to once again
partner with City Sightseeing Johannesburg (the Red Bus) for Mandela Day.
Partnerships like this show what can be achieved when organisations come
together with a shared purpose. The iconic red bus doesn't simply transport
volunteers – it carries a message of kindness, hope, and human connection
across our city. Every scarf shared, represents warmth, dignity, and a reminder
that someone cares. We hope this partnership continues to grow, inspiring even
more people and organisations to join us in spreading warmth, one scarf and one
act of kindness at a time.”
City Sightseeing Johannesburg says the partnership
perfectly reflects the spirit of Mandela Day by taking generosity directly into
communities.
Lisa Nel, Marketing & Brand Manager at City Sightseeing South
Africa, comments: "Mandela Day is all about turning small actions into big
change. Partnering with 67 Blankets allows us to do exactly that."
"Each scarf we help distribute is more than
just protection from the cold — it's a message of hope, dignity and shared
humanity. We're honoured to play a part in wrapping our communities in the
warmth and spirit of Madiba this winter."
City Sightseeing Johannesburg's iconic red
double-decker buses offer visitors and locals a safe and flexible way to
discover Johannesburg's rich history, culture, and attractions through its
Hop-on Hop-off service. For Mandela Day, however, the bus becomes something
more than a sightseeing experience — it becomes a vehicle for kindness.
The activation begins at 09h00 from the City
Sightseeing Johannesburg’s departure point on Oxford Road, Rosebank, before
making its way through the city and returning to Rosebank after the scarf
distribution.
As hundreds of volunteers across South Africa
continue knitting throughout the year, initiatives such as this remind us that
Mandela Day is not only about giving something away but about creating moments
of connection that leave a lasting impact.
South Africa Wraps the Nation in Kindness as 67 Blankets
Mobilises Thousands for Mandela Day
As South Africans prepare to honour Nelson Mandela Day on
Saturday, 18 July, thousands of handcrafted blankets, scarves, and other
lovingly created items will make their way into communities across the country
as 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day once again mobilises one of South
Africa's largest volunteer movements.
Throughout July, hundreds of KnitWits, schools, businesses,
community organisations and volunteers will gather in shopping centres,
hospitals, clinics, public parks and community spaces to knit, distribute and
share warmth with people who need it most. From public knitting events and the
much-loved Secret Scarves Shhh campaign to large-scale blanket handovers and
community outreach programmes, the movement will once again transform simple
acts of kindness into tangible expressions of Madiba's legacy.
This year's programme includes public knitting activations,
the much-loved Secret Scarves Shhh campaign, large-scale blanket handovers and
community outreach events across Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the
Eastern Cape and the Free State.
One of the highlights of Mandela Day will be the second
annual partnership between 67 Blankets and City Sightseeing Johannesburg (Red
Bus). Travelling through Johannesburg CBD and surrounding areas with KnitWits
handing out hundreds of hand-knitted scarves, spreading warmth, kindness and
meaningful human connection in honour of Nelson Mandela's legacy.
The annual campaign is made possible by hundreds of
volunteers who knit throughout the year to ensure people facing South Africa's
harsh winter receive not only warmth, but also dignity, comfort and the
knowledge that someone cared enough to make something by hand especially for
them.
The Secret Scarves Shhh campaign has become one of 67
Blankets' best-loved Mandela Day traditions. Colourful handcrafted scarves are
tied to fences and public spaces with handwritten notes inviting anyone who
needs one to simply take one.
Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela
Day, says: “When we started 67 Blankets, we dreamed of creating warmth, but
what has grown over the years is so much bigger than blankets. We have built a
community that connects people through generosity, creativity and kindness.
Every scarf tied to a fence, blanket wrapped around someone's shoulders and
every conversation shared reminds us that Madiba’s legacy lives on through our
actions. If each of us can make even one person feel seen, valued and cared
for, then together we really can change lives, one stitch at a time.”
2026 Mandela Day Activations
KwaZulu-Natal
Wednesday, 15 July | 09:30–12:00 – Springside Café,
Hillcrest.
Gauteng
Tuesday, 14 July – Sunday, 19 July | All day – Bedford
Centre – Sit 'n Knit & Learn.
Wednesday, 15 July – Friday, 31 July | 18h00–21h00 – Hyde
Park Corner Centre Court – Made for Living launch and Secret Scarves installation.
Thursday, 16 July | 08h30 – Witkoppen Clinic, Cedar Lakes
Group – Secret Scarves handover.
Thursday, 16 July | 10h00 – The Family Africa, 879 Buffalo
Street, Diepsloot – Scarf handover
Thursday, 16 – Sunday, 19 July – Ferndale on Republic – Learn
to knit or crochet for 67 minutes.
Thursday, 16 July – West Rand Oncology Department – Knee
rugs handover.
Friday, 17 July | 09h00 – Weltevreden Park Government Clinic
– Secret Scarves handout.
Friday, 17 July | 13h00–15h00 – Dainfern Taxi Rank (Outside
Fourways Crossing) – Secret Scarves Handover.
Friday, 17 July | 14h00 – Midrand West Clinic – Secret
Scarves.
Saturday, 18 July | 09h00– City Sightseeing Red Bus departs
from Oxford Road, Rosebank and travels through Johannesburg CBD doing Secret
Scarf handovers and community engagement.
Saturday, 18 July | 10:30– Rosebank Union Church – Secret
Scarves.
Western Cape
Wednesday, 15 July | 14h30 – Kromboom Park, Athlone –
Scarves, meals and fruit.
Saturday, 18 July | 15h00 – Maynardville Park – Kekel en Kraai
Group – Secret Scarves handover.
Saturday, 18 – Sunday, 19 July – Pinelands Library – Knit
Squares Together.
Tuesday, 21 July – Protea Cancer House, Tygerberg Hospital –
Blankets and bed socks handover.
Thursday, 23 July | 12h00 – House of Thebiso, Langeberg Glen
– Blankets, baby goods and soft toys.
Eastern Cape
Friday, 17 July | 15h00 – Mount Pleasant, Gqeberha – Warmth
in Every Stitch Secret Scarves.
Free State
Thursday, 16 July | 10h00 – Invitation to Squares for
Mandela Day – 25 Monument Road, General de Wet, Bloemfontein.
Saturday, 18 July | 11h00 – Kommisdrift, Thaba Nchu –
Blanket, scarf and soup handover with Her Majesty Kgosi Gaboilelwe Moroka and
GBFS of St Patrick Church.
For more information on 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day,
click on the logo advert to the right of this article.
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