By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe delivered a keynote address on behalf of president Cyril Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day celebrations in Emerlo, Mpumalanga.
This year’s theme is ‘United in Resilience for The Defence of Our Freedom and Democracy’.
Ramaphosa was unable to officiate the Freedom Day celebrations as he is being treated for flu, presidency confirmed.
“President Ramaphosa is unable to officiate this engagement as he is being treated for flu and has been advised to rest for this to clear,” the presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
“The President wishes the nation well on this Freedom Day, which marks the conclusion of the observance of 30 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa.”
The 27th of April commemorates the first time South Africa held its first ever democratic elections in 1994 following the fall of the apartheid government.
It has been 31 years since Nelson Mandela cast South Africa’s first-ever democratic ballot. Since then, there have been several changes and challenges to the country’s democracy
This year’s Freedom Day is the first following the formation of South Africa’s first-ever national coalition government, replacing the African National Congress (ANC)’s 30-year grip on power.
Mantashe said Freedom Day is to celebrate the “unity of all South Africans.”
“On this Freedom Day, we honour our past, confront the present, and shape our future – together.
Mantashe said that before 1994, the government of the country served only 8% of the population.
“We often hear people say, 30 years, nothing has changed or we are becoming worse. It means that some people feel that we have deteriorated, but we must remind ourselves and our people that before 1994, the government of the country served only 8% of the population; today it is serving every member of this population.”
Mantashe said that 31 years is not enough time to reverse the impact of over three centuries of colonialism and apartheid.
Mantashe said every citizen has the right to basic services and has the right to participate in the “shaping government.” “That’s why we elect every five years,” he said.
He also spoke out against racism and segregation in South Africa.
“The fact that we have a history of reconciliation over revenge, that is what we are celebrating. It is our choice for reconciliation over revenge, healing over hatred; you heal, you do not continue hating, peace over conflict. Right-wing fringes regard this gesture as cowardice rather than a noble one. That is why you find some of the people talking of an Orania, a piece of land in the Northern Cape.
“They want to create it as some land that is independent. Actually, If I would be president for more than three hours, I would declare that people must go and build in Orania. Black people must go and build there and we mix them. They (would) appreciate that hatred can never survive peace. It is peace that builds a nation,” said Mantashe.
Mantashe further said South Africa have been sought out by countries embroiled in conflict, hoping to learn from “our experience with national reconciliation, conflict resolution and dialogue.”
“We are committed to assisting where we can to contribute to peace. This week we received a visit from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, where we discussed the role South Africa can play through the African Peace Initiative in contributing to the end of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”
Mantashe added the South Africa continues to stand in solidarity with the victims of conflict and war.
He reflected on the struggle to end Apartheid in South Africa and the responsibility to further help bring peace to other warring nations.
“We stand with the peoples of Palestine, of Western Sahara, of the eastern DRC, of Sudan, of Yemen, and with victims of gender oppression in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.”
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of GCIS.