Today is Freedom Day
South Africa celebrates legacy of Nelson Mandela
SOUTH AFRICA held its first free and fair democratic elections from April 26-29, 1994, ending centuries of colonialism and the brutal apartheid regime. Since then, South Africa annually celebrates its National Day, also referred to as Freedom Day, on April 27.
If Mandela had lived up to 2018, he would have turned 100. In recognition, the South African government, including all its diplomatic missions, will commemorate the month of April as Freedom Month under the theme ‘The year of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: towards full realisation of our freedom through radical socio-economic transformation’. This year’s celebration also coincides with the centenary anniversary of Mama Albertina Sisulu, whose contribution to the freedom South Africans enjoy can never be understated.
“These struggle stalwarts epitomised our struggle for liberation. South Africa is the country it is today because of their countless sacrifices and that of many other South Africans who fought tirelessly to overcome the brutal apartheid system,” stated a release from the South African High Commission.
“The first democratic elections in April 1994 gave birth to our constitutional democracy. For the majority of South Africans who had never voted before, their dignity was restored and the country was transformed to a nonracial, non-sexist and democratic society.
It led to the emergence of a national identity built on a respect for one another and our love for the country. Since then we have embarked on a joint journey to build a country that belongs to all who live in it. South Africa continues to register progress in consolidating the gains of our democracy. However, despite these achievements, our freedom remains incomplete without the economic emancipation of the majority of South Africans.”
The South African government is therefore advancing radical socioeconomic transformation to address the triple challenges of high unemployment, high inequality and high levels of poverty.
POLICY INTERVENTIONS
There are currently a number of policy interventions by the government and there are discussions taking place at national level with a variety of stakeholders to advance radical socio-economic transformation. Together, these initiatives form the basis of the government’s efforts to create the type of society envisioned in the South African National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, the South African High Commission in Jamaica stated.
It continued that these discussions together with the NDP 2030, are demonstrative of the unwavering commitment of the South African government to ensure that the country’s constitution remains its guiding light by enshrining the values of human dignity, non-racialism and non-sexism, and reaffirms that the rule of law remains paramount and that South Africans take ownership of the outcome of these discussions.
In looking to create a better life for all, the South African government is guided by this statement by Mr Mandela:
“Let us never be mindful of the terrible past from which we come. Memory should not be used as a means to keep us shackled to the past in a negative manner, rather as a joyous reminder of how far we have come and how much we have achieved.”