South Africans are marking freedom day today and 21 years of democracy amid violence that wrongly portrayed the nation as xenophobic.
This year also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the historic road-map to the country’s struggle for freedom and ultimately the achievement of democracy.
President Jacob Zuma is expected to deliver the keynote address at the national event that will be held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
This year also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the historic road-map to the country’s struggle for freedom and ultimately the achievement of democracy for South Africans.
The African National Congress party expressed sadness ahead of Monday’s celebrations saying the day comes when South Africa is reeling from violent actions against of a minority.
The party said such acts have resulted in South Africans being wrongfully labelled as xenophobic and hostile and intolerant to the rest of the African continent.
“We mark this freedom day therefore, deeply aggrieved by these acts of violence and in mourning for the lives of the seven people (3 South Africans and 4 non-South Africans) that have been lost during this period,” said the party.
The ruling party was encouraged by calls for unity and peace since the violence erupted, but insisted the solution lay in addressing both the grievances of foreigners and South Africans.
The theme of the event too is a relatively serious one: “Celebrating the Third Decade of our Freedom through Accelerating Radical Economic Transformation”.
