By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Political parties United Democratic Movement (UDM), ActionSA, RISE Mzansi, Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters were commemorating Freedom Day with some of them saying that true freedom has not been fully realised.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has said that many South Africans, particularly the majority of black people, still face economic exclusion due to poverty and unemployment.
The UDM’s secretary-general Yongama Zigebe said that 30 years later, Project South Africa finds itself in ever-increasing jeopardy, and the governing African National Congress was blamed.
“The UDM contends that an increasing number of South Africans have come to realise that the ANC has departed from its roots as a liberation movement. It’s abandoned its original agenda of uplifting all South Africans,” Zigebe said.
Action SA’s Herman Mashaba, and the party’s Gauteng premier candidate Funzi Ngobeni, led to the party’s Freedom Day Celebrations in Orange Farm.
Mashaba said the country had not achieved true freedom as many remained in a cycle of poverty while crime spiraled out of control.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi took the party’s commemoration event to the streets of Soweto.
Zibi took part in a freedom walk through historically significant streets joined by struggle veteran Seth Mazibuko. Mazibuko the 16 June 1976 Soweto uprising in his youth.
The Democratic Alliance said its leader John Steenhuisen would lead the party’s commemoration events in KwaZulu-Natal, in eThekwini. The event will also premier the next DA television advert known as “Pathway to Victory.”
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has taken a swipe at President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying he failed to deliver on the one million houses he promised to the people of Alexandra.
Malema addressed the Freedom Day Rally at Alexandra Stadium in Alexandra Township on Saturday, as South Africans across the country are celebrating Freedom Day. It is also a 30-year celebration of democracy.
“Ramaphosa came to Alex and promised to build one million houses but to date, there is no single house that was built by him.
“We have never seen Alexandra grow and have nice houses… We want it to grow and give our people houses,” he said.
Initially, the project was launched in 2001 by then President Thabo Mbeki, as a plan to alleviate housing and urbanisation problems in the area.
But it has since been disfigured by what Malema described as “Alexandra Mafias” who stole the money and used it for their interests.
He further encouraged the people to vote for his party to witness a decisive government that works for its people.
The national and provincial elections will be held on May 29.
According to official statistics, more than 16 million South Africans rely on monthly welfare grants for survival.
Public demonstrations have become common as communities protest against the ruling African National Congress’ failure to deliver job opportunities and basic services like water and electricity.
An electricity crisis that has resulted in power blackouts that are devastating the country’s economy added to the party’s woes as businesses and homes are sometimes forced to go without electricity for up to 12 hours a day.