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What Freedom Day means to South Africans

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April marks the Freedom Month to commemorate the historic occasion in 1994 when South Africa achieved democracy. South Africa will on the April 27 celebrate Freedom Day at the Union Buildings under the theme: “South Africa – A Better Place to live in”. The 2014 Freedom Day celebration is the official birthday of 20 Years of Freedom campaign.

The SABC asked a cross section of South Africans what freedom means to them – click below for the video responses.

SABC Digital News asked visitors what Freedom Day meant to them, and they responded like this:

“Im Free as a Black young woman to have Education, Social life and Work.” – Lynette Ausi Mengwai

“It means being free from oppression that am forefathers went thru,it’s a vital day that means a lot to our Africans citizen’s . It’s a day that one celebrate the democracy evolution.” – Portia rRanokot

“Means so much to me..a day i was given an opportunity to vote for the party of my choice! The dawn of democracy! The birth of freedom and the death of apartheid!!!! Most of all,the unification of rainbow nation.” – Marcus Makeke from Atteridgeville in Gauteng.

“Once upon a time Freedom Day had meaning. It symbolised the breakaway from the shackles of Apartheid and the policies of that time. Today, that freedom is slowly recoiling, shackling us once again. With the introduction of the Information Bill, courts that have ruled against public will (e-tolling case), corruption from the leaders and those in position, religious intolerance that is on the increase, police brutality, lack of service delivery, red-tape affecting everything from education, to the health sector, to trade with little and very expensive recourse for those who stand up to any of these and other injustices. And, of course the one thing people of this country refuse to acknowledge – racism in reverse (Africans over any other race)! So what does Freedom Day mean today? Just be thankful our rights are still more respected than countries such as Burma, Palestine, America, ….. But that doesn’t mean our Freedom isn’t being curtailed and abused by those in power!” – Sara, South Africa

Official celebrations

“This Freedom Month is an opportunity for South Africans to share their stories, experiences and progress we have made as a young nation since the dawn of democracy in 1994,” says Phumla Williams, the Acting CEO of GCIS. “As government we call all citizens to join-hands and celebrate this significant occasion”

The 20 Years of Freedom celebrations are taking place against the backdrop of the fifth National and Provincial elections on 7 May 2014.The first democratic elections in South Africa were held on 27 April 1994. It marked the dawn of a new phase of building a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it.

“We acknowledge that the freedom we celebrate today was not free. We therefore, make a plea to all South Africans to honour our hard fought freedom by voting on 7 May 2014, we especially encourage the young and first-time voters to exercise their democratic right by taking part in the upcoming country’s fifth election” said Williams.

President Jacob Zuma will on Sunday address the Freedom Day national celebrations and later bestow National Orders to outstanding South Africans and eminent foreign citizens.

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