Freedom Charter: dream or reality?
How is the country faring, 60 years later, in realising the 10 clauses of the Freedom Charter?
THE FREEDOM Charter was a landmark document in the Struggle. From its inception, and especially during the 1980s, its demands were a rallying point for many in the Struggle. In particular, for revolutionary militants from all parts of the liberation movement, the charter has been at the centre of key theoretical and political debates.
Today, 21 years into democracy and 60 years after the adoption of the Freedom Charter, there is, however, growing anger and discontent among the majority who have been left behind. It will simply not do for the ANC and the SACP to continue to invoke the charter while blurring the very real contradictions between its vision and the reality.
How has the country fared, 60 years later, in realising the 10 clauses?
The people shall govern!
WE NOW have a democratic system based on non-racial ideals which affirm the main civil and political rights demanded by the charter. These achievements were legally codified in the passing of the constitution in 1996 as the supreme law of the land.
But widespread corruption and the growing class divide have increasingly fuelled a re-emergence of “people’s power” from below. Yet where the frustrations of the masses have been expressed, the state has been quick to respond in a defensive and heavy-handed fashion, reminiscent of apartheid.
The public or state sector is also becoming increasingly hostage to political and economic elites whose approach to equality and justice, as well as to democratic accountability to the people, is clearly not in line with the ideals and vision of the charter.
All national groups shall
have equal rights!
THERE has generally been a positive approach and adherence to this constitutional right. Specific legislation has been passed and special courts set up to deal with issues like hate speech, although there remain concerns around the consequent impact on freedom of expression.
The people shall share in
the country’s wealth!
IT SHOULD come as little surprise that this section of the Freedom Charter has invoked the greatest debate and controversy. After all, at the heart of the Struggle was the fight to transform not only the political system of apartheid capitalism, but also the economic system.
It is now clear that the ANC has chosen the mixed economy, developmental state approach which allows state-owned enterprises to be used as the standard-bearers of “change nationalisation”, while the new political and economic elite reap the corresponding benefits of their control over state assets in the world of free market capitalism.
The land shall be shared among those who work it!
THE AFRICAN rural masses are still deprived of wealth and access to land. The aim of a massive redivision of good arable land into the hands of black people so as to end conditions of poverty and hunger has been left hopelessly unfulfilled.
All shall be equal before the law!
MOST crucially, everyone now has the right to legal representation, a fair trial and conditions of detention that are “consistent with human dignity”.
However, over the past two decades, there have been an alarming number of cases in which community activists, protesters and ordinary people accused of a crime have been