Show your true colours on Freedom Fridays
CITIZENS have been urged to be proudly South African every Friday by displaying the national colours as part of the Freedom Friday initiative.
Lead SA, Department of Arts and Culture, Government Communications and Information System, Proudly SA and Brand South Africa have introduced Freedom Fridays as part of the build-up to the milestone of 20 years of democracy in April 2014.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile said government has endorsed the initiative. He further urged all South Africans to be proud of their nationality.
“The message we are sending out is that we are proudly South Africans,” he said. “We urge everyone to heed this call by wearing a South African scarf, national sport team jersey and you can even decorate your clothes with the South African flag colours.
Speaking at the launch of Freedom Fridays at Soweto’s Sakhumzi Restaurant – which is a stone’s throw away from the old Mandela house – former political prisoner and anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, used the platform to recount the long journey that gave birth to the democratic era.
The signage displayed by the struggle hero had these words: “This lift is for Europeans only. Service lift is provided for tradesmen, non-Europeans, Prams and Dogs. No Hawkers allowed.”
“I am sure young people have never seen this before. I do not have to say anything more because one sentence has said it all,” said Kathrada.
“Yes, 1994 brought us dignity. Apartheid is no longer there. Racism is now a criminal offence. But today we’ve got many challenges. Poverty, unemployment, disease and children without schools are the new challenges we are facing.
“I am glad that young people have already established what our new challenges are and I am confident that young people, who are the majority of our country, will stand up to the challenges that face us because there is no dignity in poverty, disease and hunger.”
