27 April 1994 is the day when the first democratic elections were held in South Africa. Today, 27 April 2019 South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to mark the freedom of our country and the dawn of democracy.

Nomkhuleko Thutshini and Sanele Xaba from the Communications Department went out to the field to get views of students about the significance of this day in the history of South Africa.

Nkosinathi Ndwedwe, Information Technology: Third Year Student

“Freedom day to me, it is a day where we were able to vote for the first time, as we know that just before 27 April 1994, South Africa was under the ruling region of the white monopoly. The day we, as South Africans voted and it was also the transition from apartheid into democracy. South Africans were given the right to vote, right to express their opinions. We were given an opportunity to access the things that we were not able to access during the apartheid period which included the right to free education and freedom to access equivalent opportunities with White people as Black citizens.”

Isabel Lekhuleni, Business Law: First Year Student

“Freedom day for me doesn’t mean anything because I believe that as South African we are still working on accessing Freedom. Although we say South Africa is a democratic country that is not the case because the Bill of Rights exist only on paper. Everything that is interpreted to us in the Bill of Rights is not true as there are people who are more superior than others and, there are people who are still arrested for practicing freedom of speech and expression. There are people who are still not participating in the economy because they are deprived the right to participate. Freedom in my own definition should be where we are able to access equal basic human needs as the South African citizens.”

Randal Korkic, Electrical Engineering: Second Year

“Freedom day for me is the day when we broke from the oppression that we were facing but it is a vague memory because equality is not served here in South Africa.I don’t celebrate this day because I still believe they are still failing to fulfil the purpose of this holiday.”

Simjee Ebrahim, Electrical Engineering: Second Year Student

“Freedom day means so much to me because after we were oppressed by White people, we broke free from that. We have so many rights today that we didn’t have back in the day. We are now able to vote, we are able to go into certain areas and everyone is treated the same way. I don’t really celebrate Freedom day because to me it is like an everyday thing. I am saying that because we are now able to do things we could not do during the time of apartheid. That is why I feel like every day is a Freedom day.”

Andile Dlamini, Business Law: First Year Student

“It is about enjoying the freedom and appreciating those who fought for us. We are now free to do anything we want, whenever, at any time or given moment. I personally don’t celebrate it but I just appreciate what they did.”