We must not lose sight of the price of our freedom
The month of April is Freedom Month and it is worth celebrating because its 27th day gave us our freedom and our first democratic right was practised.
It was very early in the morning when my mother went to vote for the first time. There were goose bumps all over because the people never really knew if the elections would be peaceful or if they’d turn violent and people would be killed.
I was young then in 1994, 16 years old to be precise, and I wasn’t eligible to vote. But it felt so good and I wished I could grow up faster and vote as well and become a history maker as one of the first voters in the first multiracial election in South Africa.
Despite that I felt the winds of change looming. That was to be the start of the new beginning and the death of the oppressive apartheid era. Life would never be the same again.
The masses were to elect, and democratically so, whomever they wish to be led by.
We need to celebrate this month and day with pride for this freedom did not come easy. There was blood and sweat. People fought hard to finally win the war. Some went into exile in search of freedom. People sacrificed their lives and their wellbeing for the freedom that we are enjoying today.
Thank you to the freedom fighters who made this possible. Thanks to their families. Thanks to other nations for helping out as well.
To all my fellow South Africans, let us enjoy our freedom responsibly. Our freedom must not disturb the freedom of others. Let us remember that freedom comes with responsibilities too. Godfrey Malibe
Acornhoek