Freedom Day in the eyes of the born-frees
Review took to the streets to ask the born-frees what Freedom Day meant to them and whether it was important to celebrate the day.
POLOKWANE – Freedom Day is a national public holiday in South Africa that serves to remember the country’s first democratic post-apartheid elections, held on April 27 1994.
On this day, the country started the process of walking away from its dark, colonialist past and sloughing off the shackles of white minority domination by electing Nelson Mandela through a free and fair voting process.
Review took to the streets to ask the born-frees what Freedom Day meant to them and whether it was important to celebrate the day.
Patience Maja said she was happy that she did not experience Apartheid and she would celebrate the day to remember those who fought hard for her freedom. “Our forefathers grew up the hard way and we need to celebrate freedom day thoroughly,” she added.
Elijah Setati said Freedom Day was one of the most important days in South Africa and urged citizens to celebrate it. “The holiday also pays respect to Mzansi’s (South Africa’s) unique and remarkably detailed and inclusive constitution, including a Bill of Rights. The document is widely recognised as one of the most developed charters in the world, and guarantees all those within South African borders the freedom from the hatred and oppression that ruled the past.”
Oriel Seakamela said Freedom Day should be taken seriously and be celebrated as the day represented unity. “Young people must be glad to be born because we are now living in unity despite race. We are all living freely in South Africa because of people such as Nelson Mandela, among others, who fought for our freedom,” he added.
Thabo Makiletja explained that being free was best thing in the whole world. He further said it meant they were no longer forced to walk with their ID’s in their pockets and they could go anywhere they wanted without any fear. “My grandfather told me that it was tough back then and I am happy I did not experience what they went through. Let us unite and keep the legacy of our heroes and heroines alive,” he said.
Miscah Seroba said South Africans should not sit back and relax but they should rather unite and celebrate important days such as Freedom Day. She added that vandalism of statues and xenophobic attacks happening in the country might cause war again, which was something she did not want.
