FEATURE
Source: SAnews
Freedom Month: Reflecting on SA's democratic gains
very core of the first development blueprint, i.e. the Reconstruction and Development Plan. “In giving meaning to
M
freedom, successive
inister of
theme is our conviction
Sport, Arts and
that besides the many
Provision of basic services
Culture Nathi
challenges that have
The Minister noted that
had to intensify efforts
Mthethwa has called on
threatened to stymie this
one of the enduring sins
in making sure that the
the nation to use Free-
important constitutional
of apartheid was the ne-
most basic of services
dom Month to reflect on
democratic project, there
glect of black communi-
are delivered to the peo-
the country’s democratic
are gains that we ought
ties, even in terms of the
ple,” he said.
gains as the dignity of
to safeguard,” Minister
provision of basic ser-
The 2019 Baseline Sur-
millions of South Africans
Mthethwa said.
vices, which impugned
vey of the Foundation for
democratic administrations since 1994 have
continues to be restored.
This year’s Freedom
on their human dignity.
Human Rights is one of
Addressing the launch
Month, marked every
“It therefore stands to
the most reliable pieces
of Freedom Month re-
year in the month of
reason that the provi-
of empirical data that
cently, the Minister said
April, will be celebrated
sion of basic services
offers a glimpse of South
this year’s commemora-
under the theme: “Con-
such as electricity, clean
Africa’s progress since
tion will be used to take
solidating Our Demo-
running water as well as
1994 into some of these
stock of the constitution-
cratic Gains”. This year
provision of other basic
most basic of human
al democratic project.
marks 28 years since the
infrastructure to previ-
needs.
dawn of democracy in
ously disadvantaged
1994.
communities was at the
“Inherent, therefore in Freedom Month 2022’s
According to the survey, in terms of housing, 82% of the adult population live in formal housing, although increased migration from the rural hinterlands into the major urban centres threaten to derail some of the gains in this regard. In addition, increased
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Public Sector Manager • April 2022
