Achmat Dangor, Chief Executive, Nelson Mandela Foundation

Mr Mandela continues to inspire the citizens and leaders of the world as we collectively struggle to deepen democracy and freedom throughout an unequal world. As Mr Mandela moves more and more out of public life to spend time with family and close friends, we are increasingly reminded that it is not the man but what he represents and lives for that will guide us as we move forward.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) was established in 1999 initially to support Mr Mandela’s personal office and wide-ranging post-presidential work. In 2004, when Mr Mandela announced his intention to step back from active public life, the NMF inaugurated a review and consultation process designed to focus its core business around memory and dialogue work. The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Dialogue Project was formally launched by Mr Mandela at a ceremony on September 21, 2004. A pilot four-phase development path (feasibility, start-up, platform-building, and institutionalising) was concluded in 2006, at which time the Centre of Memory and Dialogue was adopted as the vehicle for the Foundation’s core business. A five-year (2007-2011) strategic plan was approved for implementation of this vision.

During the first five years of its existence, the Foundation sought to make positive interventions in rural education – a priority area for Mr Mandela. Mr Mandela has spent a great deal of his life’s energy in promoting quality public education for all. His belief is clear – the meaning of democracy is inextricably linked to access to public education and development for all children. During the 1990s he worked with the private sector to build schools in rural areas. From the late 1990s, a series of dialogue and research interventions was undertaken to determine the most appropriate institutional vehicle for Mr Mandela’s interest in education. The Nelson Mandela Institute emerged from this process, and was launched formally in 2007. At the launch the Institute was welcomed into the family of Mandela organisations by Professor Gerwel, Chairperson of the Board of the NMF.

Based in the Eastern Cape, the Nelson Mandela Institute is grounded in a partnership between government and the University of Fort Hare. While working intimately with school communities in the Eastern Cape, the Institute’s mandate is to promote and take forward Mr Mandela’s vision in education and development nationally and beyond our borders.

The Institute was placed at the University of Fort Hare, reflecting the special historic relationship between Mr Mandela and the university. It is envisioned that the Institute will become a centre of excellence in rural development and education, contributing to the university’s special historic mandate.

This has been an important period for the family of Mandela organisations. During this period, Mr Mandela prioritised the consolidation of a small sustainable family of high quality organisations established in his name to take his humanitarian work into the future.

We trust as you read this report that you will be duly impressed by the thoughtfulness and solidity of the work of the Institute. As a young organisation it is already becoming a centre of innovation in its area. We hope that you will join us in ensuring its sustainability and growth into the future.

Achmat Dangor
Chief Executive Nelson Mandela Foundation