There are many in South Africa who bemoan the number of annual public holidays (12) but one of the most widely celebrated is Freedom Day, which falls on April 27, and commemorates South Africa’s journey to freedom and democracy.
There is so much to say about this day and what it means to our Net Buddies to know that, despite the horrendous injustices their parents and ancestors faced in a discriminatory apartheid regime, they have a legitimate voice and the right to build themselves a better life.
The SA government’s Communication and Information System (GCIS) puts it well: “It is easy to forget that the right to vote was only conferred on the majority of our people just [three] decades ago. [Thirty] years into democracy others may have forgotten that things we take for granted, such as living in an area of our choice, freedom of association and the freedom to choose a life partner irrespective of race, sexual orientation, and culture was prohibited.
“The importance of these changes cannot be overstated; they set us on the road to normalising social and cultural relations. They set the foundation for a normal society in which race, creed or gender does not dictate ones place in society.
“[Freedom Day] is a celebration of our nation; an affirmation of all South Africans moving away from hatred, divisions and a painful history to build a common future. This day represents peace, unity and the restoration of human dignity of all South Africans. It is a confirmation that we have made strides away from the past of exclusion and discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, colour and creed. It further guarantees our freedom and that the abuse and violations of the past will never be repeated.”
The complexity and challenges that accompany democracy’s total transformation of political, cultural, work, and community dynamics cannot be overstated. At its root, all South Africans have had to learn new ways to think, act, make decisions, and create new relationships. While it remains a work in process, it is also the awe-inspiring opportunity that allows our global Infinite Family to work together to help South Africa’s first generation of “Born Frees” break historic barriers and build a more just and equitable world for themselves, their families, their communities and all who follow. We are honoured to be part of the monumental rebirth of a land so many of us hold dear in our hearts.