Giyani – Today South Africa is celebrating the heroic struggles waged by gallant men and women who understood that freedom could not be given to them as a gift, says President Jacob Zuma.
Addressing the Freedom Day celebrations at the Giyani stadium, in Limpopo, President Zuma said these men and women knew that freedom had to be relentlessly fought for and achieved.
He said South Africans should think of all the people who suffered in various ways during the apartheid era and before.
“Millions of our people suffered immense poverty and deprivation through the system of institutionalised racism which rendered black people to be trespassers in the land of their birth, and not worthy of any rights,” he said on Wednesday.
He also paid tribute to the heroes who passed away during this month of April such as former ANC President Oliver Tambo, Chris Hani and Solomon Mahlangu.
“Their lives and untold sacrifices remind us that our freedom was not free and that it came at a great cost, including life itself,” President Zuma said.
He said the 1994 victory, which brought the democratic government, ended the centuries’ long repression.
“It set our nation on a path towards reconciliation, freedom, justice, peace, democracy, equality and indeed an entrenched strong culture of fundamental human rights and liberties,” he said.
Thousands of people gathered at the Giyani Stadium to celebrate the day. Among those were Aubrey Lethabe, 40, from Polokwane. He told SAnews that Freedom Day is one of the most important days in the history of South Africa.
“Our people were oppressed for many years and today we are celebrating our freedom and democracy,” he said.
According to Lethabe, all South Africans must celebrate Freedom Day. “Our democracy has brought us equal opportunities,” he said.
Godfrey Tshivhase, from Thohoyandou in the former Venda homeland, told SAnews that he will cherish the day as this was the turning point to a better life.
“In 1994 we all went out to vote for a democratic government, for a government that cares for its people,” Tshivhase said.
Meanwhile, President Zuma also touched on recent drought that has ravaged the country, calling on South Africans to continue to use water sparingly.
President Zuma said government is continuing to look for other water resources. “Water tankering, water restrictions, and finding new sources of water, especially by exploiting underground sources, are some of the efforts employed to reduce communities’ water challenges,” he said.
With regard to Limpopo, President Zuma reported that 55 villages in Giyani have access to bulk water supply due to government’s interventions.
With regards to the upcoming Local Government Elections, President Zuma said local government is everybody’s business.
The 2016 celebrations are held under the theme "Together Building Better Communities - Local Government is Everybody's business”.
“We have to work together to bring about a better life for all. As we celebrate our freedom, we also celebrate the improvement in the health care of our people. We are very happy that the life expectancy of South Africans has improved,” he said.
The 2016 Freedom Day theme encourages South Africans to play a constructive role in local government, especially in ensuring the building of united and better communities where people work together with government to meet developmental challenges.
It is meant to encourage citizens to participate in governance and in the implementation of the Back to Basics programme aimed at strengthening municipalities.
Among the dignitaries who attended the Freedom Day in Giyani included the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and Police Minister Nathi Nhleko. Senior government officials and representatives of various political parties represented in Parliament also attended the event. - SAnews.gov.za
