BLOGGING THE VIEW: 5 Facts to Remember this Freedom Day

This Saturday marks an incredible 30 years since South Africans first took to the polls in the country’s inaugural democratic election.

Images of queues snaking for miles as citizens waited in eager anticipation to make their mark are ingrained in our history textbooks.

And as we look towards our next election on 29 May, it’s worth remembering what it is we’re celebrating.

1. Citizens answered the call

In 1994, some 19.7 million people came from far away, many spending hours travelling and queuing just to make their mark in this historic election. This was a huge number, representing 87% of the country’s eligible voters. In 2024, in what is yet another landmark election, around 27.79 million voters have registered – the highest since the dawn of democracy in South Africa. However, it must be noted that this is still only around 62% of South Africans eligible to vote.

2. The ANC won by a landslide

With an impressive 62.65% of the vote, the ANC won the election and Nelson Mandela went from the hardships of being a political prisoner to becoming president of the country whose freedom he’d fought so hard for. The ANC continued to gain votes until 2004, peaking at 69.7%, although the Zuma era saw a downward spiral, with the ANC taking 57.5% in 2019.

3. First black president

On 10 May 1994, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa, becoming the first democratically elected head of state. Thousands of people attended the inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, with Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk inaugurated as deputy presidents.

4. Many parties to the party

52 parties will be on the national ballot, with around 30 to 44 on the regional ballots. The National Assembly general election in 1994 was contested by 19 political parties – some of which are familiar, although many others have fallen by the wayside:

African National Congress (ANC), National Party (NP), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Freedom Front (FF), Democratic Party (DP), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Africa Muslim Party (AMP), African Moderates Congress (AMC), Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa (DPSA), Federal Party (FP), Minority Front (MF), Sport Organisation for Collective Contributions and Equal Rights (SOCCER), African Democratic Movement (ADM), Women’s Right Peace Party (WRPP), Ximoko Progressive Party (XPP), Keep It Straight & Simple Party (KISS), Worker’s List Party (WLP), and Luso-South Africa Party (LUSO).

5. Big change in 2024

This year marks a significant milestone in the evolution of South Africa’s democracy. For the first time, independent candidates not connected to any political party can contest elections in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

It’s easy to forget how hard-fought South Africa’s freedom was, but enjoying that freedom means never getting complacent. The moment we forget freedom means constant vigilance is the moment we begin to lose it.

“As dawn ushered in this day, few of us could suppress the welling of emotion as we were reminded of the terrible past from which we have come as a nation; the great possibilities that we now have; and the bright future that beckons us.” – Nelson Mandela

SOURCES:
https://www.twinkl.co.za/blog/5-facts-about-freedom-day-in-south-africa-quotes-and-resources
https://www.sdlaw.co.za/blog/10-facts-about-freedom-day/
https://africantravelcanvas.com/experiences/history-and-politics/what-is-freedom-day-and-why-do-we-celebrate-it/
https://www.ipsos.com/en-za/possible-political-party-choices-2024-election
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-general-elections-1994
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/iec-ready-print-ballot-papers-2024-elections

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