Nominations are open for News24's Young Mandelas 2025 - here's how to enter
Each year News24 shines a spotlight on young leaders who've taken up the baton to continue Madiba's legacy and vision of a prosperous Mzansi for all.
Think you or someone you know is up to the task? Nominate yourself or them in one of the six categories before the deadline on Friday, 16 May.
Our final list of this year's Young Mandelas will be announced on 18 July, which is globally celebrated as "Mandela Day".
Nominations have opened once again for News24's annual Young Mandelas of the Future newsroom initiative.
Created to recognise and shine a spotlight on young South Africans who are making a positive impact in their communities and our country at large, the News24 initiative is calling for entries across the nation.
As Mzansi gears up to celebrate the life and legacy of global icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, on 18 July, we are calling upon young South African changemakers to share their stories of how they are, in their own unique way, championing Madiba's dream of a united SA where compassion, equality, freedom, and opportunity thrives.
See the class of 2024 here
Marking the sixth year since its launch, News24's Young Mandelas project came about to honour Madiba's centenary birthday. Since then, the publication has set out to find a new generation of leaders taking South Africa forward each year.
Here are the six categories for Young Mandelas 2025:
Climate Literacy and Sustainability
Any young person who is playing a significant role in responding to the impact of climate change, including efforts and activities that focus on mitigation, adaption, and education.
Social Justice
Any young person who is advocating for social justice causes and systemic change, including initiatives and movements related to equal education, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, gender, racial equality, and more.
Innovation
Any young person who is taking steps to create and develop impactful offerings such as products, services, processes, technologies, and business opportunities.
Mental Health
Any young person who is creating awareness about mental health or providing support services that are addressing issues such as stigma and limited access to care.
Humanitarianism
Any young person who is using the resources at their disposal to serve and uplift local communities, including community-based projects, social initiatives or movements which are combating poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
Deepening Democracy
Any young person who is creating platforms and opportunities to strengthen and revitalise democratic values without political affiliation, including electoral education, voting rights, civic engagement, and the rule of law.
HOW TO ENTER
Are you or someone you know making a meaningful contribution to any of the above categories? If so, please submit your nomination by filling out this form.
In addition to filling in the entry form, entrants MUST send a high-res profile photo of the nominated person via email to 100mandelas@24.com.
Applications will only be considered when both the form and image are completed and submitted.
The entries are limited to South African citizens, aged 35 and younger – as only these entries will be eligible for consideration for the Young Mandelas 2025 list.
Please note that entries close on Friday, 16 May at 23:59. A panel of judges will make the final selection of Young Mandelas to be published on Mandela Day (Friday, 18 July).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
State Department report condemns South Africa over 'extrajudicial killings' in annual human rights report
The U.S. State Department found that the human rights situation in South Africa has "significantly worsened" over the past year, citing reports of "extrajudicial killings" and repression against racial minorities. The State Department conducts an annual review of the human rights situations in countries across the globe, and it targeted South Africa with new criticism in the 2025 report released Tuesday. The report, scheduled to be sent to Congress on Tuesday, pointed to the U.S. receiving several reports of the South African "government or its agents" carrying out extrajudicial or arbitrary killings, as well as repression of Afrikaner minorities. "In July the provincial police commissioner confirmed that as of April, police shot and killed at least 40 criminal suspects in shoot-outs. On September 2, police reported six suspects wanted for homicide and extortion were shot and killed by Durban police in a shoot-out. According to Reuters, eight of the police officers involved were placed on administrative leave with full pay pending investigation," the report said. "Watchdog groups noted deaths in custody often resulted from physical abuse combined with a lack of subsequent medical treatment or neglect," it continued. "According to data compiled by Agence France-Presse, there were 447 murders on farms and smallholdings between October 2023 and September 2024. In recent years, extremist political party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) encouraged attacks on Afrikaner farmers, reviving the use of the song "Kill the Boer [Farmer]" at its rallies and otherwise inciting violence," the report added. The State Department went on to criticize wider repression tactics against Afrikaners, citing The Expropriation Bill of 2024, in particular. The legislation allows the government to seize land without compensation in some circumstances. "This act could enable the government to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation, following countless government policies designed to dismantle equal opportunity in employment, education, and business, and extreme rhetoric and government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners," the report said. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House during a state visit in May. Trump has claimed that White Afrikaner South African farmers are being slaughtered and forced off their land. The Afrikaners are descendants of mostly Dutch settlers who first arrived in South Africa in 1652. "Now this is very bad. These are burial sites right here. Burial sites — over a thousand — of White farmers. And those cars are lined up to pay love on a Sunday morning. Each one of those white things you see is a cross. And there is approximately a thousand of them," Trump said at the time. "They're all White farmers. The family of White farmers. And those cars aren't, driving, they are stopped there to pay respects to their family member who was killed. And it's a terrible sight. I've never seen anything like it. On both sides of the road, you have crosses. Those people are all killed." South Africa denies claims of genocide and harassment, as does its president. "I'm not going to be repeating what I've been saying," Ramaphosa said at the May visit. "I would say if there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you these three gentlemen would not be here, including my Minister of Agriculture. He would not be with me."
News24
5 hours ago
- News24
Sibiya going ‘rogue'; SA to submit new US trade offer: Today's Top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Masemola claims Sibiya went rogue as police 'capture' scandal rages on - Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya is challenging his stay-at-home order in court, claiming he was following orders by disbanding the political killings task team. - National police commissioner Fannie Masemola claims Sibiya went rogue by disbanding the team against his instructions and that dockets were left dormant at head office. - Masemola denies Sibiya's claims of being stripped of security and says the stay-at-home order is not a suspension, but meant to prevent the intimidation of witnesses during the investigation. Fatima Gaffoor/Facebook 'I'm coming for you': Parkview top cop accused of death threats says she's the real victim - Lieutenant Colonel Fatima Gaffoor, head of detectives at Parkview police station, denies threatening a former State witness, TM, who obtained an interim interdict against her. - Gaffoor claims TM is stalking her, sending menacing messages including threats to 'put bullets in [her] head' and parking outside her workplace for hours. - The case stems from TM's unhappiness with Gaffoor's handling of his complaints related to his time in witness protection after being a witness in two murder cases linked to Radovan Krejcir. X/@MYANC Mbalula was exercising at time of Bozwana's killing, says advocate in court bid to gag Mda - Fikile Mbalula is seeking a court interdict against Anele Mda for social media posts allegedly falsely linking him to the 2015 murder of Wandile Bozwana. - Mbalula's legal team argues Mda should have verified the truthfulness of newspaper reports before posting about their content, while Mda's advocate contends her comments were opinions based on media reports. - Mda's advocate argues that requiring verification of media reports in political debate would set a dangerous precedent, potentially stifling public commentary on matters of public interest. Fix the market or jail: Judge puts Tshwane mayor, city manager on notice - Tshwane's mayor and municipal manager face jail time if they don't comply with a court order to fix the City's fresh produce market. - The court found Tshwane in contempt of a 2022 order to provide full municipal services to the market, including investing R18 million in upgrades. - The City has 30 days to provide a comprehensive plan and breakdown of spending, or the mayor and manager will face a month in jail, suspended for a year if they comply. SA to submit new US trade offer today – but BEE, pork still contentious - South Africa will submit a new trade offer to the US, including a concession on poultry imports by allowing the US to self-ban and self-lift restrictions based on state-level outbreaks. - Restrictions on pork imports will remain to protect South Africa from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, despite US pressure. - US demands for changes to BEE exemptions and SA's expropriation laws have not been addressed, and South Africa hopes to negotiate lower import tariffs with the US while diversifying export TAKE | 'Baby AB' is no more. World, meet Dewald Brevis! - Dewald Brevis scored a 41-ball century in Darwin, Australia, becoming the second quickest South African to a T20 century. - His innings of 125 off 56 balls is now South Africa's highest individual score in T20 cricket. - Brevis' performance has led to calls for him to be a key figure in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka and the 50-over World Cup in 2027. 'That's not correct': Miss SA organisers shut down rumours of 2025 pageant cancellation - Miss South Africa organisers deny rumours of cancellation despite the pageant's postponement and CEO's resignation. - The organisation cites a need for 'greater alignment with international events' and plans to expand its focus to entrepreneurship and social cohesion. - Organisers are currently vetting contestants, promising to announce finalists and a new pageant date soon, following a citizenship controversy last year.
Epoch Times
8 hours ago
- Epoch Times
REPLAY: South African Ministers Brief Media on US Tariffs
REPLAY: South African Ministers Brief Media on US Tariffs South Africa's Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Mpho Parks Tau jointly brief the media at 2:20 a.m. ET on Aug. 12 in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the outcomes of the Cabinet decisions regarding South Africa's response to the unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States...
