As South Africa observes 29 years of democracy on April 27, some citizens are divided on whether the country should continue to observe Freedom Day.
This year’s official celebration is expected to take place in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, in the North West.
This year the country celebrates Freedom Month under the theme: “Consolidating and Safeguarding Democratic Gains”.
With the youth drowning in drugs, some feel that there’s nothing to celebrate on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address at the official gathering.
Desponded citizens say with the level of crime, inequality, corruption, rolling blackouts and unemployment, there’s no freedom.
Some say criminals have taken over the running of the country, adding that ‘every week, people are assassinated’.
One person says, “We are not free in the country. People are being killed every day. No arrests, life just goes on. In Mamelodi, John Wick killed people, but even the police don’t know who John Wick is. We are scared to walk in the evening because we don’t know who is their next target.”
Another resident says, “As you can see, I’m not working. We are on our own. Government doesn’t care about us. Only those who are connected are the ones who are enjoying life under this government. Nyaope is finishing our brothers. Go to any township, you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
In March, Statistics South Africa’s quarterly labour force survey showed that the official unemployment rate recorded a slight decline of 0.2 percentage points, reaching 32.7% in the final quarter of 2022 — its fourth consecutive decrease.
During his 2022 Freedom Day speech, Ramaphosa emphasised government’s efforts to improve South Africans’ lives under democracy.
“We [youth] are dying. Our peers are into drugs and alcohol. We can’t even open businesses because of these never ending load shedding. The President and the ministers don’t get these electricity disruptions. Life was better under [former president Jacob] Zuma,” says Thabang Sathekge.
Currently, the country is alternating between stage four, five and six power cuts.
However, others feel that with soo much that is going wrong in the country, there’s a lot to be grateful for.
20-year-old University of Pretoria (UP) student Thatego Rapoo says despite many challenges facing the country, a lot has been achieved since the dawn of democracy.
Rapoo says the youth must never take for granted the freedom that they enjoy today, as it was achieved through the blood of the freedom fighters.
She adds that through government initiatives, young people are able to acquire funding to further their studies through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas).
“The freedom that we enjoy today, was paid for through the sweat and blood of other people. People lost their lives fighting for this freedom. Today we are able to attend here with white people, and this is possible today because the price that was paid during apartheid,” she explains.
