Freedom Day loses meaning

Freedom Day – a special day marking 28 years into our democracy – has come and gone, with millions of South Africans having little to celebrate. Gone are the apartheid laws, including the Group Areas Act, Mixed Marriages Act, Pass Laws, with blacks barred from casting their vote during the general elections.

So repressive was the approach of the National Party (NP) regime in ensuring such laws were well implemented, it was difficult for activists to raise their voices in protest.

Imprisonment, detentions without trial, extrajudicial assassinations, with Sharpeville and Langa massacres still fresh in our memories, marked the NP rule.

There were also the brave who paid with their lives, who included Solomon Mahlangu, Steve Biko, Dr Neil Aggett, Ahmed Timol, Ruth First, Vuyisile Mini, Siphiwo Mthimkhulu, Sipho Hashe, Champion Galela, Qaqawuli Godolozi, Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkhonto.

There were also the less celebrated, who went to exile, but sadly could not return home alive. The list of those who died in exile included Joyce Bucibo, Zainab Asvat, Nontsikelelo Cothoza, Winnie Dadoo, Brenda Ditshababako, Daphne Ngqose, Annie Goldberg, Freda Karabo, Ena Lebo, Rethabile Madimola, Sabata Manaka, Shiela Manzezulu, Beauty Maqolo and Prudence Yende.

No amount of statues or commemoration services would be enough to celebrate these gallant freedom fighters, if what they fought for could not be realised – an end to poverty, real economic empowerment of the downtrodden, employment, an end to crime and corruption within the ranks of the ANC.

Despite being in a tripartite alliance with the ANC, Cosatu this week broke ranks, with the labour federation national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla describing the 28 years after the 1994 democratic breakthrough as “the dream remaining a stillborn”.

Observed Pamla: “The gap between the rich and the poor has not just widened but South Africa is the most unequal country in the world, according to the World Bank.

“Inequalities have risen with about 71% of the population in South Africa living on less than R100 a day.

“Budget cuts are directed at the poor and retrenchments, with [state-owned enterprises] throwing more workers on the unemployment line.

“Workers are being berated by purveyors of bourgeois ideology for demanding a living wage.

“The country’s rate of unemployment has soared to unprecedented levels and attempts at revitalising the capitalist economy, within the neoliberal framework of cutbacks and bailouts, has only led to new and bigger rounds of crisis.

“The criminal apartheid regime’s strategy was to sow tribal and racial divisions to deny us our common identity as South Africans in particular and Africans in general.”

Frustrations and protests have become the hallmark of people’s response to poor ANC governance, which has worsened over years.

Party loyalty, not the country, has been prioritised by ANC leaders, with Freedom Day having lost its true meaning.

One would have expected the ANC to change gear after the bruising local government polls, that saw it losing power in the country’s major metros.

Business unusual is what you would have expected President Cyril Ramaphosa to tell the top brass, who include Cabinet ministers and members of the national executive committee.

Failure to crack the whip and adopting zero tolerance to poor governance and corruption is set to cost the party more votes in future polls.

No amount of statues or commemoration services will be enough to celebrate gallant freedom fighters, if what they fought for cannot be realised.