CUT engaged in two projects on Mandela Day in partnership with the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Higher Education and Training on 18 July 2013 respectively. The  first project was in the  Qwaqwa (a region at the foothills of the Drakensberg) and the other was in Bainsvlei Bloemfontein at the Ditlatse Primary School .  

Qwaqwa Project In recognition of Nelson Mandela’s sacrifices, Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande gave a keynote address at the Mandela Day Career Guidance and Counseling Festival on 18 July 2013 in Qwaqwa and acknowledged Nelson Mandela’s valuable contribution in advancing education and his legacy to our democracy. “Make use of the opportunity presented to you today and make sure you acquire as much information needed for you to pursue a desired career field upon completing your metric,” the minister urged youth in attendance during a Mandela Day Career Guidance and Counseling Festival that was held at Maluti a Phofung Further Education Training (FET) college, Lere la Tshepe Campus in QwaQwa. The annual event was organised by the Department of Higher Education and Training, together with Free State Provincial Government in commemoration of 95^th birthday of Nelson Mandela and his 67 years of a life lived in struggle for peace, justice, equality for all South Africans. 

Responding to a clarion call by the Minister of Higher Education, Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) joined many institutions in career and counseling festival by exhibiting to the youth all the respective career fields offered by the institution. Pupils came from schools all over Thabo Mofutsanyana District and were eager to gather the much crucial information, knowledge and skills needed in following the right career path that is going to set them in the right academic direction. “We have so far increased the support in terms of funding to both FET colleges and Universities in order to combat the scares skills programme shortage and expanded the admission scale that enables the youth to be accepted at these learning institutions,” asserted Nzimande. “This festival was inspired by an informed analysis that identified the need for distribution of information to the youth in order to improve the quality of our education and bridge the skills gap between FET colleges, [traditional] Universities and Universities of Technology,” said Free State MEC for Education. Tate Makgoe. On 11 November 2009 the United Nations General Assembly voted a unique resolution that marks an international day to honour him. Nelson Mandela Day is therefore celebrated every 18 July to exemplify his legacy. 

Ditlatse Primary School, Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein International Mandela Day asked the world to inspire change.  The idea is simple. The former president, Mr. Nelson Mandela – who also holds a Doctor Technologiae in Education (honoris causa) degree from CUT for his valuable contribution in advancing education, gave 67 years of his life fighting for equality, freedom and justice. In response to this international call, CUT staff and students exemplified 67 minutes of his life by donating their time and contributing meaningfully to revamp Ditlatse Primary School in Bainsvlei, Bloemfontein. Department of Correctional Services which identified and adopted for betterment joined hands with CUT staff and students  the department and contributed to the project on the day by fixing and painting of classrooms, ablutions, sandpits to better facilities for the school learners.  Learners also needed socks and school shoes and the team partnered with PEP stores to contribute these items.