Unpacking the essence of Ubuntu and our shared South African identity

In South Africa, identity is often stitched together not only by history, languages and traditions, but also by the quiet, everyday gestures that reflect the spirit of Ubuntu.

This philosophy, loosely translated as “I am because we are”, runs deeper than a proverb. It is a living, breathing practice that binds communities and affirms what it means to be South African.

Ubuntu is found in the neighbour who runs an extension cord across the fence when your lights go out, and in the strangers who squeeze closer in a packed taxi so one more commuter can fit in.

It is in the informal stokvels that operate as grassroots banks, ensuring that families who might otherwise fall through the cracks can send their children to school or put food on the table.

It is also there in the rhythm of shared meals, from township street corners where a plate of shisa nyama is passed around, to suburban gatherings where pots of curry, pap and samp are ladled out generously without counting portions.

Food, like kindness, is never measured in scarcity but in abundance.

Even in times of crisis, Ubuntu shows itself. During floods, shack fires or power cuts, South Africans are quick to rally—donations pour in, volunteers arrive, and WhatsApp groups buzz with offers of blankets, bread or just a shoulder to lean on.

These moments remind us that while the nation may often be divided by politics, economics, or geography, our instinct to care remains a powerful unifier.

The spirit of Ubuntu is not perfect, nor is it always visible. But when we step back and look closely, it is there in the details, in greetings exchanged with warmth, in a stranger offering you airtime when your phone dies, and in communities organising night watches to keep one another safe.

This Heritage Month, reflecting on Ubuntu means recognising that being South African is not only about our resilience, diversity or history. It is also about the everyday acts of humanity that stitch together the social fabric of a nation.

Ubuntu is not a relic of the past, but a living legacy, one that continues to make us who we are.

IOL