President Ramaphosa to lead #FreedomDay Celebrations in EC
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to lead the official National Freedom Day celebrations in the Eastern Cape today.
With the countdown to the elections fully underway, some south africans say there’s not much to celebrate.
As the country marks over two decades since the first democratic elections in 1994 – the commemorations are a call for reflection on the progress made since the end of the apartheid era.
While government is at pains to explain how great strides have been made since the dawn of democracy, some South Africans are not convinced:
A woman – who’s in her 20s – says Freedom Day appears to be mis-appropriated.
“The youth doesn’t know the significance of Freedom Day, all we do is make plans to drink alcohol, get drunk and we have forgotten how important this day is.”
Another woman said it’s not just a public holiday.
“It’s really sad to see it being referred to as just a holiday.”
A man said the day is important…
“Freedom Day is important for South Africans and we should observe it
https://twitter.com/missnthabil/status/1122005090552950785
https://twitter.com/Abramjee/status/1121982686531325953
Happy 25th Birthday South Africa!! This quarter life crisis is real. #freedomDay
— J (@Miss_J_03) April 27, 2019
With soaring youth unemployment rates, sky-rocketing crime levels and signs of a struggling economy, politicians in the country have used this elections season to issue promises of better days to come.
It remains to be seen however, whether these assurances will reignite optimism that was alive when South Africans first took to the polls on this day, 25 years ago.
You might also like…Chinese government donates money to assist #KZNfloods victims
The Chinese government has donated about R1 million in disaster aid to assist flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal.
Trucks packed with emergency relief products arrived in Durban on Friday and were headed for communities which had been hardest hit by the deadly disaster…Read more here
