SA celebrates Freedom Friday at Eastgate Mall

Friday, February 14, 2014

Johannesburg - While many were celebrating Valentine’s Day on Friday, a large crowd of South Africans were gathered at Eastgate Mall in Johannesburg’s East Rand to celebrate Freedom Friday as the countdown towards the 20th anniversary of democracy gains momentum.

The Freedom Friday campaign encourages the nation to celebrate their ‘South Africanness’ by wearing whatever makes them proud to be South African.

Apart from being entertained by song and dance by two performing groups, GB Collective and Unknown Virus, those who were at the event were given South African flags and copies of the government newspaper, Vuk’uzenzele and the Public Sector Manager Magazine.

Deputy Director General at the Department of Arts and Cultures, Monica Newton, said the countdown campaign was just one activity aimed at mobilising South Africans behind the 20 years of freedom celebrations.

“We are rolling out the countdown campaign to certain malls across the country as we get closer to April 27 - which marks our 20th anniversary of democracy.

“We’ve come a very long way, but even though we still have a long journey ahead of us, as a nation, we need take this opportunity to recognise and celebrate the huge gains that we’ve made in education, health and housing to mention a few.

“Things have changed for everybody since 1994 for the better; hence we are encouraging South Africans to celebrate their achievements and to continue working together to take our democracy forward,” she said. 

The Department of Arts and Culture has been mandated to drive the mobilisation programme in support of South Africa’s celebration of 20 years of democracy and freedom. The countdown campaign is done in partnership with Government Communications and Information System (GCIS), Brand South Africa, Proudly South African and LEAD SA.

When he launched the countdown clock campaign in October last year, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile called on all South Africans to come together and participate in activities that promote a common South African consciousness.

“This is not a government campaign but a coming together of South Africans from different walks of life, united in our effort to deepen national pride and celebrate all that is good about our country,” said Mashatile at the time. -SAnews.gov.za