From coding to exhibitions, City puts Madiba’s legacy centre stage
18 July 2025
City staff spent time in various communities today, 18 July 2025, in honour of Madiba Day. From coding competitions through the month of July to a tour of the Mandela and The Attic exhibitions at City Hall for vulnerable communities, City staff made sure to commemorate Madiba’s legacy.
During the month of July, 26 City libraries will be participating in the #Coding4Mandela tournament, with the winning teams in different categories going through to the national tournament in August where the City will be pitted against the rest of the country.
‘Coding was introduced to our libraries three years ago and it has grown exponentially since then. Some libraries now have more than one team, and the number of participants continues to grow. It is an exciting way to learn through play, and coding helps children improve their logic and problem-solving skills in a fun setting. It also enhances creativity and stimulates critical thinking. The City’s participants consistently perform well against national and international competitors, and we are once again backing them all the way to gold,’ said the Mayoral Commitee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
Coding is a project of the Nelson Mandela University Computing Sciences Department and the Leva Foundation, while Tangible Africa is responsible for creating coding applications, TANKS and RANGERS, which allow participants to play offline, using minimal resources.
This year, the Leva Foundation is introducing new coding apps with Juicy Gems played as part of the competition and a forthcoming soccer version.
The categories this year are: primary school, high school (Grades 8 and 9) and high school (Grade 10 to 12).
Unplugged coding allows libraries to bring coding to communities who do not have access to expensive resources.
By downloading a very small app (7MB), participants can play TANKS or RANGERS offline, using the app and the tokens from the game packs.
To find out more about coding, visit your local library or contact info@levafoundation.org.
The City’s Environmental Management Department also celebrated Mandela Day by hosting a group of visitors from various safe spaces and shelters, including members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, at the City Hall for a tour of the Mandela and The Attic exhibitions. Staff from the department also assisted with putting together care packages through hospice initiatives in Helderberg.
‘By reflecting on former president Nelson Mandela’s legacy, we are reminded of what an exemplary and singular leader he was. His endless capacity for compassion, his patience, and quiet strength anchored his being and his leadership of our country. His vision still lives on through our collective efforts. As a city, let us remind one another that the society that Mandela envisaged when he made his iconic speech on the balcony of City Hall on 11 February 1990, is still possible and attainable. That our society can still overcome the pain of our past and move steadily towards, not further away, from a future of shared prosperity for all,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The City of Cape Town’s Nelson Mandela in Cape Town – Legacy Exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The permanent exhibition is situated at Cape Town’s City Hall where Nelson Mandela made his first public address after being released from prison. The exhibition is a testimony to the sacrifices of the past, and the hope and possibility of South Africa’s future.
In addition to linking visitors to the legacy of Madiba, the exhibition recognises the invaluable contributions of other Capetonians who were involved in the liberation struggle, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Cissie Gool and Ashley Kriel.
Since its opening on 10 December 2021, the exhibition has welcomed over 16 000 visitors through its doors. Entry to the exhibition, and participation in the education programme, is free-of-charge.
For more information about the Nelson Mandela in Cape Town – Legacy Exhibition and Education Programme, visit www.capetown.gov.za/MandelaExhibition.
For more information about the Nelson Mandela in Cape Town – Legacy Exhibition and Education Programme, visit www.capetown.gov.za/MandelaExhibition.
For more information about The Attic Exhibition, visit www.capetown.gov.za/TheAttic
Caption 1: Councillor Higham joined in a game of netball at a Mandela Day back-to-school sports event in Khayelitsha.
Caption 2 & 3: The City Hall Exhibition Tour honours Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
Caption 4: In Delft, the City's Fire & Rescue Service were joined by Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member Alderman JP Smith, in hosting a fire awareness proframme for children at the ACVV Daycare Centre. The children were taught various lifesaving techniques and educated on how to use the Public Emergency Call Centre.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
