What a 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day it was, distributing scarves to Johannesburg residents over the weekend
We then hit the road, heading to our final destination, Zoo Lake, where we distributed the rest of the scarves, before heading back to Rosebank to go to our different homes after what felt like a tiring, thirsty and hungry journey, but fulfilling endeavour nevertheless.
Main Picture: Carolyn Steyn standing in front of the Red Bus. Picture: Courtesy of SABC
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
We met in Rosebank, Saturday, July 18, 2026. Some of us as early as 8.30am for what was supposed to be a 9am appointment. Instead, we hit the road at 9.45am as the last of the media people to arrive, a crew from Hillbrow Radio, joined us eventually.
We started our journey driving on Oxford Road, and taking the Collet Drive, leading us to the leaf suburb of Houghton. The spirit on the bus was high. The passengers were not the usual lot, mainly tourists on the iconic City Sightseeing Red Bus, but a mix of people from different professions – the media, and other volunteering community members. All were driven to wake up that early to mark Mandela Day, by joining 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, and distribute scarves at strategic places around Johannesburg. These are easy to access places, where members of the public could pick up a scarf of their choice to provide comfort in this cold Winter season.
Our first stop was the hill area on Munro Drive, where scarves were offloaded and hung up for those passing in the area to pick. We then headed to Braamfontein with spirits still high, despite our dry throats as the organisers must have forgotten to have water on the bus. Water or no water, we soldiered on, motivated by the good deed at hand.
In Braamfontein, at the park opposite Joburg Theatre, no sooner were the scarves hung up, than they went down, as members of the public quickly noticed that Mandela Day had arrived with gifts that would warm them. Keeping the cold Winter season away from their bodies.
It is here, that the founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, actress, radio host and philanthropist Carolyn Steyn, the widow of the late business tycoon, Dow Steyn, sprang into action alongside the lot of us, distributing the blankets that soon vanished from the fence where we hung them.
Carolyn interacted with those collecting the scarves, -taking pictures with them.
One particular member of the public, a woman was hesitant at first. Not sure whether she could pick a scarf of her choice. But she did, encouraged by Steyn to take two. The other one, for his wife left at home.
We then hit the road, heading to our final destination, Zoo Lake arriving shortly after lunch time, where we distributed the rest of the scarves, before heading back to Rosebank to go to our different homes after what felt like a tiring, thirsty and hungry journey, but fulfilling endeavour nevertheless. After all, we were motivated to do the one thing that should make the former President of South Africa, the late Nelson Mandela happy, from where he is resting. And so, the thirst and hunger, was a little sacrifice we had to make for a good cause. The Non-Profit organisation, since its founding in 2013, has never missed a year of making and distributing these scarves.
Personally, as soon as we arrived back in Rosebank, I hit the road home, and could not wait to make a meal, having been satisfied that I witnessed some South Africans doing one good thing that fits well into our Ubuntu concept –by thinking of those less privileged and comforting them by distributing these blankets, courtesy of the several volunteers around the country, who worked with 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela to crochet the beautiful scarves that temporarily beautified some parts of the city before making their way to several homes where they gave comfort and warmth. That is of course, for those lucky to have passed through some of the places where the scarves were hung, joining others around the country who benefited from this gift of scarves by 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.