Bolt Celebrated Mandela Day by Inspiring Young Minds at Career Day and Pledge to Youth Futures

It has been over a decade since former South African president Nelson Mandela passed away. He was the country’s first democratically elected president after spending 27 years in prison. Every year on his birthday, 18 July, people are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to helping others. The 67 minutes represent the 67 years Mandela spent fighting for social justice.

This year in honor of Mandela Day, E-hailing service provider Bolt South Africa transported 67 high school learners from Fidelitas Comprehensive Highschool and Namedi Secondary School in Diepkloof Soweto to Constitution Hill, for a one day youth career empowerment day. It was a day filled with interactive activities, career demos and inspiring panel talks with leading creatives, tech leaders and Bolt professionals.

The celebration was held at Constitution Hill, a place rich in historical significance and closely tied to Madiba’s legacy. Formerly a prison and now a symbol of justice and democracy, it provided a fitting setting for a day focused on transformation, leadership, and hope. Holding the event at this site underscored the core values Mandela championed justice, freedom, and education.

Opening the panel was Lerato Motsoeneng, Senior General Manager of Bolt South Africa as he reflected on his own challenging varsity years, shaped by financial hardship and perseverance, and how those early experiences gave him a deep sense of purpose that continues to guide his leadership today.

“Our youth are not just the future, they are the present,” said Motsoeneng. “As we reflect on Madiba’s legacy, we remember that leadership is not about status. It is about service. True impact comes from lifting others as we climb. Mandela taught us that courage and compassion can build nations. We are trying to build hope, one young mind at a time.”

He was followed by a number of people who also shared the hardships and challenges that they had to overcome to be where they are today in their careers as well as how getting an education was the most important thing they needed to do.

Part of the panel speakers was award winning Tik Tok content creator Grace Mondlana, the talented all-round media personality Anele Zondo as well as amapiano artist Masterpiece YVK. All these familiar names emphasized one message in particular, “believe in yourself and in what you do’’. Together, these influential voices left a lasting impact on the learners, showing them that success is possible through passion and perseverance.

Throughout the day, speakers from different departments within Bolt shared insights into their professional journeys, discussing how they entered their fields, the challenges they faced during university, and how they discovered purpose in their careers. From legal professionals and HR specialists to tech experts, PR and brand leads, data privacy officers, safety strategists, and creatives, the room was filled with individuals who spoke not only about their roles but also about how their paths first began.

The event wrapped up with an engaging Q&A session, giving learners the chance to connect directly with Bolt professionals. This interactive segment encouraged open conversations, mentorship, and honest questions about career journeys and personal development.

To keep the momentum going, Bolt South Africa revealed plans to introduce a dedicated internship programme. The initiative is designed to offer meaningful opportunities for young people through practical experience, mentorship, and skills training contributing to the fight against youth unemployment and nurturing the next generation of South African leaders.