On this day 24 years ago the first democratic election was held in South Africa.

Today as South African commemorate Freedom Day, they celebrate the liberation of the country and its people from a long period of colonialism and apartheid.

Mpumalanga News went to the streets of Mbombela to find out what our readers had to say, click here to watch a video:

 
PICTURES:

Bongekile Mahlalela said: “Things have changed now and we can go anywhere we want. I am glad that I have my freedom and it is because of the freedom fighters who fought,”

Nomcebo Fundama said: “We now have rights and we do what we want, although all those rights come with responsibilities that we cannot ignore,”

Renny Maseko said: “We are all free and we do not have to carry passes.”

BACKGROUND :

According to South African History Organisation apartheid ‘officially’ began in South Africa in 1948. Colonialism and oppression of the African majority had plagued South Africa since 1652.

After decades of resistance, a stalemate between the Liberation Movement and the apartheid government was reached in 1988.

The ANC, South African Communist Party (SACP), Pan African Congress (PAC) and other organisations were later unbanned on February 2, 1990. A non-racial constitution was eventually agreed upon and adopted in 1993.

On April 27, 1994, the nation finally cast its vote in the first democratic election in the country.

The ANC was then voted into power, and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the president of South Africa on May 10.

Source: South African History Organisation (SAHO).