29 years later, still no freedom for Thembisa residents

By Dumisani Hlatswayo

On the 27th of April 1994, residents of Thembisa took to the polls for the first time to vote in the non-racial national elections. Excitement reverberated throughout Thembisa’s streets when the ANC defeated the National Party. For many people, the ANC victory marked the dawn of a new era. The quality of life for many people in Thembisa was expected to improve. People living in shacks were promised houses, and those who were employed were promised employment.

29 years later, Thembisa remains a difficult place to live for many black people. As a country, we remain the most unequal country in the world. We have the highest unemployment rate, the highest crime rate, and the most corrupt government in the world.

Most residents of Thembisa, particularly the youth, consider Freedom Day to be an ordinary day. They don’t have anything to celebrate since most of them are unemployed. It is not unusual to find them roaming the streets, dancing to Amapiano, and drowning their sorrow in alcohol.

Yet, most young people in Thembisa still believe that the ANC government is better than the apartheid government.

“Black people were never considered to be full participants of the economy and black people still face challenges faced by apartheid spatial planning that affects people’s ability to get quality jobs and means of self-determination,” Themba told the Olifants News.

According to Themba, the current government must address its service delivery issues. “Ramping up their refuse removal on the streets ensures that places that are vacant for recreational use are protected from land grabs and vandalism,” Themba added.

Siyabonga Mthembu believes Freedom Day is a day to honour those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of South Africa. He went on to say, as a black person, he believes he is free. “Yes, I am free. I may not have all the freedom I want, however, I have what I need and the one that I have is enough to get me started,” said Siyabonga.

“The Government should empower Thembisans with entrepreneurship skills and promote Thembisa to be a tourism destination since the international airport is at our doorstep. This will help Thembisans to become selfreliant economically and resourceful as a community,” he added.

Siyabonga said the apartheid government was not better than the ANC. “The struggle will never end. Each generation has its own struggle to fight. The ANC fought the apartheid struggle, now the ANC is the struggle of our generation, and the opposition will do what the opposition does,” he said.

To EFF member, Lebo Masenya, Freedom Day is a stark reminder that we’re still not free. “It’s a reminder that people were fooled into joining long queues just for their living conditions to remain the same,” she said.

Lebo said we’re not free as black people. “Due to the lack of progress in the implementation of freedom and democracy, we are not free,” she said.

“Black people still don’t have free water and sanitation, free education, no free electricity but instead we get load shedding. And there is no free housing. The housing they provide is the lowest and most disgraceful standard.

“There are no jobs for black youth,” she said. According to Lebo, the ANC should be removed from power since it has had 29 years to resolve every issue and has dismally failed. “They must go,” Lebo added.

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