Freedom Day celebrations marred by infant deaths

SA celebrates Freedom Day amid socio-economic challenges

The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape's Ukhahlamba District says there should be no Freedom Day celebrations in the region while there is still no explanation for the cause of the deaths of 80 babies in the municipal area.

Freedom Day celebrations are being held across the country to commemorate South Africa's first democratic poll on April 27, 14 years ago. The main celebrations will be held in Cape Town where President Thabo Mbeki will be the main speaker.

The babies from Barkly East, Elliot, Maclear and Sterkspruit died allegedly from drinking contaminated water. The Eastern Cape Health Department has sent a team to investigate. DA chief whip in the Ukhahlamba council, Retha du Bruin, says the province and the country should be in mourning.

Du Bruin says she will not attend the festivities at Burgersdorp today because she has not been invited. However the municipality's mayor Thandiswa Marawu has denied Du Bruin's allegation that no invitations were sent out to opposition party members.

Meanwhile, Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan says while today’s event will celebrate the strides made towards non-racialism and equality, much more remains to be done.

North West celebrations
The North West will celebrate its freedom day at at Kgabalatsane near Mabopane North of Pretoria. Premier Ednah Molewa will be the keynote speaker.

She is expected to outline further programmes that are aimed at eradicating poverty and unemployment in the province. The North West has HIV/Aids and unemployment rates currently standing at 30% and 40% respectively.

New party celebrates first Freedom Day
African People's Convention President, Themba Godi, is expected to join his party's supporters during the Freedom Day celebrations at the Bakenberg Marulaneng Sports Ground in Limpopo. Godi has appealed to all South Africans to dedicate this day to all those who died while fighting for South Africa’s freedom.

Godi has called on white communities to join forces with their black counterparts. He says for South Africa to continue developing and changing the lives of ordinary people and it needs contributions from both black and white communities.