celebrated on 27 April.
It commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa and marks the liberation of the people from colonialism and apartheid. Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the president on 10 May 1994 after the ANC was voted into power.
24 years later, we are still a long way from the freedom which was promised – we are still subject to poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism, crime. There is growing inequality and instability, both politically and economically, and the blame falls on the new elite, intent on pursuing their own financial and political interests.
The greater populace needs to be permanently vigilant against corruption and the erosion of the values of the freedom struggle. The crime rate has escalated, specifically violent crime, and most people live like prisoners in their homes with security systems, guard dogs, barred windows and doors, high walls, electric fences … Freedom Day – an ideal yet to be realised.
Cartoon by Nanda Soobben, SA cartoonist