Celebrating Democracy

What Freedom Day Means

By Jessie Taylor

This year, South Africans are celebrating three decades of democracy. Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections, held 30 years ago, on 27 April. Freedom Day is observed every year to honour those unsung heroes and heroines who fought for our freedom and paved the way for an equal, representative, non-racial nation.

The elections held in South Africa on 27 April 1994 were the first post-apartheid national elections in which any South African could vote, regardless of race. During April, Freedom Month, South Africans are encouraged to reflect on the progress made over our democratic journey and consider how we can further strengthen our democracy.

Thirty Years Of Democracy

The first democratic election in 1994 marked the end of over three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and white minority rule. Following a long history of colonialism and oppression in South Africa, apartheid was officially implemented in South Africa in 1948. The regime denied people of colour the right to vote, removing their participation in the political governing and running of the country.

Freedom Day honours those who fought for our country’s liberation, culminating in the first democratic election. It led to the establishment of a new democratic government, led by the African National Congress (ANC), with the late former president Nelson Mandela at the helm. The election paved the way for a new state and a new constitution.

The elections followed years of struggle and negotiations around the unbanning of organisations, such as the ANC, and the release of political prisoners. During tense negotiations between 1991 and 1992, the South African government, the ANC, the South African Communist Party, and other liberation movements engaged in these talks and drafted an interim Constitution.

The 1994 elections took place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere, though there were threats of political violence, with 19.7 million people, out of 22.7 million eligible voters, casting their vote. The election was won by the ANC with 62.65 % of the vote. The ANC formed the Government of National Unity and Nelson Mandela became the first democratically elected President of the country.

In his most recent speech to commemorate Freedom Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: "On the 27th of April 1994, South Africans of all races, languages and creeds stood in long, winding queues to exercise the democratic right for which so many have fought and for which so many have sacrificed. On Freedom Day, not only do we celebrate this defining moment on our nation’s long journey to freedom, but we also reaffirm our shared commitment to the promise of that momentous day."

He added that Freedom Day serves as a moment to reflect on our progress as a democracy. "On Freedom Day, we recall the great progress that has been made in nearly three decades of democracy, but we also acknowledge that so much of the promise of 1994 still needs to be realised. It is on this occasion that we rededicate ourselves to work with greater purpose and unity to give full effect and meaning to freedom in our land," said President Ramaphosa.

Seventh Democratic Election

On Wednesday, 29 May, South Africa will hold the country’s seventh democratic election. To ensure that South Africans have sufficient time to make their way to the polls and have their vote counted, President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special public holiday.

Phumzile Mahlangu, Assistant Director of the Communication Resource Centre at Government Communication and Information System, said the government has called on all eligible voters, especially the youth, to go out in numbers to vote on that day, as the active participation of all eligible voters is central to strengthening our democracy.

"The elections is against the backdrop of the commemoration of 30 years of Freedom. The commemoration provides us with an opportunity to reflect on how our lives have changed since the oppressive days of apartheid when the majority of South Africans were denied the right to vote, denied access to basic services, denied access to education, denied access to marry across racial lines, denied freedom of speech and media freedom, denied access to public spaces, and denied free movement," said Mahlangu.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission, more than 27.79 million voters - the highest since the dawn of democracy in South Africa - are eligible to cast their votes in this year's election. The voters’ role is now officially closed, and no one can register to vote or make changes to the voter's roll.

"The right to vote should never be taken for granted. It is a right that many fought and died for and was only achieved because of countless acts of bravery and courage by people who refused to cower under the tyranny of the apartheid regime or be bystanders to history. Therefore, we owe it to them and to ourselves and our future generations to make sure that we register to vote and have a say on the future direction of the country," adds Ms Mahlangu.

Sources: Sabinet | Gov.za | Labour Guide |OHSA