Thousands of inDrive drivers transformed an ordinary workday into a powerful act of giving this Mandela Day, helping raise R80,000 for the Nelson Mandela Foundation through the platform’s nationwide “Drive like Mandela” campaign.
The initiative, which took place on 18 July, converted every completed trip on the inDrive platform into a contribution, with R1 donated to the Nelson Mandela Foundation for every ride completed. Throughout the day, South Africans were able to watch the campaign unfold in real time through a live donation tracker on the inDrive website, which displayed both the growing number of completed rides and the total funds being raised.
Every journey became an act of service
While millions of South Africans commemorate Mandela Day by dedicating 67 minutes to community service, inDrive chose to celebrate the people whose work already serves communities every single day.
The “Drive like Mandela” campaign placed the spotlight firmly on drivers who transport passengers to work, school, hospitals, family gatherings and countless other important destinations, recognising their often-overlooked contribution to everyday life.
Rather than asking drivers to pause their work to participate, the campaign allowed them to continue doing what they do best, knowing that every completed trip was making a meaningful contribution to a greater cause.
Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s own journey
The campaign also draws inspiration from an often-overlooked chapter in Nelson Mandela’s life.
Before becoming South Africa’s first democratically elected President, Mandela regularly drove comrades and friends to important meetings during the struggle, quietly helping people reach places that mattered.
According to inDrive, the campaign honours that same spirit of service demonstrated daily by drivers across South Africa, whose work enables people to access opportunities, reconnect with loved ones and navigate everyday life.
Recognising everyday heroes
Ashif Black, Country Representative for inDrive South Africa, said Mandela Day serves as a reminder that some of society’s most important contributions often go unnoticed.
He explained that drivers play a vital role by transporting people safely to workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities and their homes every day. Through “Drive like Mandela,” inDrive wanted to recognise those contributions while supporting the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Collective action delivers meaningful impact
The Nelson Mandela Foundation welcomed the initiative, highlighting how the campaign reflects Mandela Day’s core message that meaningful change is created through the collective efforts of ordinary people.
Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile, Head of Communications and Marketing at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said recognising drivers as active citizens while turning each completed ride into support for the Foundation demonstrates that everyday work can become a powerful force for positive change.
The campaign also reinforces the idea that even small individual actions, when multiplied across thousands of people, can create lasting impact.
Supporting a broader global mission
The Mandela Day initiative also aligns with inDrive’s wider global mission of challenging injustice and positively impacting one billion people by 2030.
By placing drivers at the centre of the campaign, the company reinforced its belief that mobility is about far more than transporting passengers from one destination to another. It is about recognising the people who make those journeys possible and celebrating the positive difference they create in communities every day.
The success of the “Drive like Mandela” campaign demonstrates how thousands of routine journeys can collectively become something far greater, proving that every ride has the potential to drive meaningful change.
