Dr. Naledi Pandor Calls for ‘Good Trouble’ on Nelson Mandela International Day

New York, UN Headquarters: Dr. Naledi Pandor, Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, spoke at the United Nations, calling on people worldwide to honor Madiba’s legacy by engaging in “good trouble” to promote justice and equality.

In her address on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Dr. Pandor reflected on Mandela’s lifelong accomplishments, his timeless values, and the ideal world he envisioned—a world characterized by justice, dignity, and shared humanity.

“Mandela was a troublemaker—the kind of good troublemaker we need more of today,” Dr. Pandor remarked.

“He championed equality and aimed to dismantle a system of oppression that served the interests of a few. While this system was defeated in South Africa, it remains a global challenge.”

The address also honored the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, whose essential work contributed to South Africa’s liberation, and celebrated the 2025 recipients of the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize, Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede, as contemporary figures in the fight for justice.

As the United Nations nears its 80th anniversary, Dr. Pandor called for a reformed and more democratic UN to lead the charge for global equity in the coming years.

“Let us leave today with a renewed sense of obligation for the contributions we must each make,” she concluded.

“May the legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela inspire us to engage in transformative efforts and to relentlessly pursue his vision of a just society and a fair world.”

Full speech by the Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Dr. Naledi Pandor

President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General, Permanent Representatives, esteemed guests.

Thank you all for being here today. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to address you.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation sincerely thanks this esteemed body for allowing us to speak on Nelson Mandela International Day.

President Mandela valued the crucial role the United Nations played in advancing South Africa’s liberation movement.

The United Nations guided us towards freedom, opposing apartheid not through armed conflict but by exercising its moral authority against injustice.

Today, we need that same audacity and courage, and as we honor President Mandela, let us remember his words: “It is in your hands.”

So, what do I ask of you today? On this Nelson Mandela International Day, I urge you to remember to create good trouble.

This call is inspired by Mandela himself.

While we endearingly call him “Nelson,” his birth name was “Rolihlahla.”

In isiXhosa, Mandela’s mother tongue and one of South Africa’s official languages, Rolihlahla means “troublemaker.”

He truly was a troublemaker.

He was the kind of good troublemaker that is increasingly needed in our world today and will be vital in the future.

He championed equality and worked to dismantle a system of oppression that served the interests of a few; a system that has been defeated in South Africa but remains prevalent worldwide.

At the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which I now lead, we often receive inquiries about what Mandela would say or do regarding current issues if he were alive today.

We ponder the same question.

In light of my message to you today, I pose the question: What world would he be willing to make good trouble for?

Based on his life and teachings, we believe it would be a just world.

A world where justice does not yield to the wealthy or powerful; where collective progress takes precedence over individual privilege; where societal benefits and responsibilities are equitably shared; where our privileges and biases do not cloud our judgment; and where personal feelings do not deter us from doing what is right.

This is the type of world we must strive to create good trouble for.

Some may be thinking: I am just an accountant, a teacher, a store manager—what does making good trouble mean for me?

While good trouble manifests in various ways depending on the individual or institution, let me suggest a few ways we can live it out daily.

First, making good trouble means striving for excellence.

It involves fulfilling your responsibilities with dedication, understanding that your efforts contribute to our collective upliftment, regardless of whether anyone is watching or the scale of your actions.

What may seem “ordinary” carries its own significance; performed to the best of our abilities, it can positively impact others’ lives and improve systems and processes.

Secondly, making good trouble entails constantly asking, “How can I effect change in my current space?” and responding to the insights that question uncovers.

These were principles Mandela embodied.

He sought excellence in his undertakings and actively engaged with the question of how he could foster change in his environment.

This year’s United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize recipients, Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede, are prime examples of individuals who passionately pursue good trouble.

Just last night, I had the honor of unveiling an exhibition at the UN titled ‘Our Shared Humanity in Action,’ showcasing the vital role the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid played in combating apartheid in South Africa.

Founded by the UN General Assembly in 1962, the work of this committee over the decades illustrates the achievements possible when people unite to create good trouble for global equity.

It demonstrates what can happen when diplomats, such as those gathered here today, rise to the occasion and commit to uplifting those in need, recognizing that while they may not share nationality, they share humanity.

The fight for freedom in South Africa was grounded in good trouble, and while striving for global equity requires various efforts today, one crucial need is a stronger, reformed, and capable United Nations.

It will be increasingly difficult to pursue good trouble in the world if internal UN structures remain undemocratic.

This must be addressed for the sake of the global community and the UN’s credibility.

As we celebrate 80 years of the UN, let us strive to build a better future for the next 80 years.

When Mandela first attended the United Nations, he remarked that while in session, people approached him and shook his hand, compelling him to rise and greet them even while seated. This behavior did not please some members of his delegation, who advised him it was disruptive, leading him to return to his hotel.

No one has asked me to leave yet, so I believe I’m doing alright. Just to clarify, this is not the kind of good trouble I am referencing.

Yet, I am also reminded of the weight Mandela bore during his initial visit to the UN, considering South Africa’s ongoing transition to democracy, still in negotiations.

One can only imagine the burden he felt but also the relief he might have found in the presence of representatives from various nations committed to international solidarity and support for a free South Africa.

So, let’s also find comfort in our gathering today, but depart with a renewed understanding of the work we all have to contribute.

I trust that the memory of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela will continue to inspire us to engage in transformative actions and uphold his vision of a just society and world.

I will conclude my speech today as Mandela concluded his address in 1990 to the Special Committee Against Apartheid in this very room.

He said: “We also take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all others who fight for their liberation and their human rights, including the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara.

“We commend their struggles to you, convinced that we are all moved by the fact that freedom is indivisible, convinced that the denial of the rights of one diminishes the freedom of others.”

I thank you once again for this opportunity to speak with you today. May God bless you all with goodness.

*This article first appeared in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za