South Africa Freedom Day

Freedom Day needs to be used by South Africans to renew their commitment to correcting their country's faults.

Of critical importance for the meaningfulness of the day are the democratic dividends which should spawn a good society. The process of establishing a democratic system in South Africa involved establishing political and governance systems based on the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, where equality became one of the organising principles of the post-apartheid society. It is because of this that Freedom Day is becoming increasingly derided by many in the cynicism which has percolated into a grievance. And the days that mark its anniversary often create incendiary moments where the grimace of discontent – particularly on the faces of those who are in the margins of society – finds expression. Surging socioeconomic disparities affront the very notion of a good society. In other words, is this day still worthy of commemoration?

It also signalled the fall of the apartheid government and gave rise to the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela. Several political parties will be ...

Freedom Day, as its popularly known, commemorates the first democratic elections in the country. Freedom Day, as it is popularly known, commemorates the first democratic elections in the country.

April will therefore reverberate in the history of the nation and some of these African countries, writes GCIS Director-General, and South African ...

The country requires all of us to work together to make our country and continent better. The South African government has made strong inroads into correcting the imbalances of the past and has worked to ensure an equal society with equal opportunities across all areas. As we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that the history and economic prosperity of South Africa is also anchored by the thousands of men who migrated from the neighbouring countries to work in the mines. A considerable number of them subsequently married and built families here in South Africa. As such, South Africa is supposed to be a multicultural society that promotes interaction among people of different backgrounds. While we accept there has been missteps along the way, no one can dispute that millions of people across the country have houses, running water, sanitation and electricity. However, as we gear up to celebrate the birth of our democracy and freedom, a dark cloud hangs over our nation. Most people in South Africa endured the nightmare of the apartheid system. South Africa was one of the last countries to gain its freedom from the apartheid regime on 27 April 1994. The then OAU had resolved to support the freedom fighters still in the trenches fighting their respective colonial powers. South Africa celebrates its freedom and constitutional democracy ushered in by the first non-racial, democratic elections held on 27 April 1994. It was a time of immense pain and suffering, and many activists were forced to go into exile in neighbouring countries or abroad. When the African leaders formed the Organisation of African Union (OAU) in 1963 (now called the African Union), their vision was solid in driving an agenda of removing the shackles of bondage in our continent.