Celebrating 30 years since the dawn of democracy

The new South Africa birthed cultural and multi racial race, embracing the rainbow nation that has been the foundation of reconciliation. 27 April marks an important calendar day in the history of the country, a milestone of the dawn of democracy from brutal apartheid regime.

On this day, after lengthy peace and political negotiations, all people of race and colour were allowed to vote. To mark this important milestone as South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha and his executive held the commemoration of Freedom Day and Democracy at Calais Stadium in Ga Sekororo, in the Maruleng municipality.

With this year’s theme of “30 years of democracy, partnership, and growth” the event was represented by various tribes that previously belonged to different Bantustans such as Republic of Venda, Lebowa, and Gazankulu now Limpopo province which is inclusive and integrated to all tribes that were segregated before 1994.

In his address, Premier Mathabatha acknowledged contribution made by countries such as Cuba, Russia, Mozambique and other countries that kept the resilient sprit of South Africans liberation fighters going throughout the years of oppression and apartheid.

“On this day, we salute our brothers and sisters on the African continent and friends across the world whose solidarity made it possible for us to defeat apartheid, we single out and salute the people of Rusia and Cuba who through their determined struggles and efforts ensured that South Africans today have the possibility to build a just united nation”.

Although there has been progress in better service delivery, fighting poverty and allocation of housing, upgrades of road infrastructure, access to health care and education, the premier acknowledge that there is still more to be done to the people of Limpopo to eradicate pit latrine toilets and water provision to the most affected communities such as Giyani.

A 60 year old Komishinara Shai who spend more than 10 years in Gauteng province, which was then the Republic of South Africa remembers the brutality of the apartheid government before he casted his first ever vote 30 years ago.

Shai was employed by various mines as a rock driller before retiring. He was arrested on two occasions for not having the dompas which was a required official document for black people to carry with them all the time, to prove their identity and where they could live or work.

“ I have experienced the brutality of the apartheid force twice and it feels like yesterday, I was arrested for being at the township because I did not have permission from the police to travel from the hostels where all mine workers resided. They arrested me at 2 am while sleeping over at a friend’s place and the other time I was arrested for being in South Africa with the expired dompas as I came from the Republic of Lebowa” Shai narrated

Shai explained how the police force strategy was to arrest black people in the early hours of the morning during their inspection which was humiliating and indecent, men will be forcefully and aggressively taken to the police van without clothes but just an underwear and be beaten before being taken to the police station.

“ There will be many of us assaulted during the arrest but there was nothing that we could do, the living conditions in the hostels were inhuman, coming back home was not an option because of poverty conditions. We held on just to provide for our families, it was tough because we were not even allowed to go out at night. Older men like me were treated like 10-year-olds by white people both at work and anywhere we went”.

As South Africa celebrates democracy, Shai continued to praise the milestone as he is an RDP housing beneficiary, have a free flow of movement to Gauteng without any documentation to visits family and friends and enjoying the older person’s grant.

Mathabatha concluded the formalities by handing over soccer balls to the local teams to enhance their performance, and a significant reminder that as aspirant professional football players, they have the opportunities to showcase their skills nationally and internationally without any limitations compared to before democracy was attained.

He also reminded the people of Limpopo to cast their vote on 29 May as the country will be voting for the seventh time since the dawn of democracy.

“ This is a very important day to cast your vote in the general election and vote for people that will bring change into your communities and South Africa, before 1994 a black person was not allowed to vote or make any decision affecting their lives. This day came with blood, death, and negotiations. Those who died for this democracy, their death can never be in vain. We use this democracy to celebrate people that confronted apartheid regime without any fear guided by the love of their country and people and we are indebted to them by casting our votes in the next 32 days”. Concluded Mathabatha