South Africa Celebrates A Decade of Freedom And A New Chapter

Ms Voyi's daughter, 17-year-old Nampo Mzana, waving a South African flag, sat around the fountain at Trafalgar Square.

South African President Thabo Mbeki celebrated a new beginning and a new chapter in his political career on 27 April 2004 with his inauguration at Pretoria's Union Buildings as he began his second term in office after his party, the African National Congress (ANC), won the general election earlier this month. The ANC has been re-elected for the third time since winning a landslide victory on 27 April 1994 at South Africa's first all-race elections.

The swearing-in ceremony coincided with the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of Freedom in South Africa following the end of apartheid and white minority rule and the dawning of a multiracial democracy. The grand ceremony was attended by more than 100 international dignitaries including South Africa's first black president and former chief executive, Nelson Mandela, and his predecessor F W de Klerk.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, who attended the event, said: "The Commonwealth congratulates President Thabo Mbeki and his party for their emphatic victory in the recent elections and joins the people of South Africa in celebrating 10 years of freedom and democracy.

The transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy was a seminal historical event from which the whole world can draw inspiration. The Commonwealth pays tribute to the people of South Africa in their struggle for freedom and recalls with pride the support it gave in helping to bring their aspirations to fruition.

In his inauguration speech, President Mbeki said the decade of freedom and democracy in South Africa had been a challenging one. Today we begin our second decade of democracy, he said. We are convinced that what has been achieved during the first demonstrates that as Africans we can and will solve our problems. Having served as the prime example of human despair, Africa is certain to emerge as a place of human hope.

But the South African leader acknowledged the need to continue focusing on the problems of unemployment and poverty that threaten the nation's progress. Endemic and widespread poverty continues to disfigure the face of our country. It will always be impossible for us to say that we have fully restored the dignity of all our people as long as this situation persists.

South Africa's Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is on a visit to London, UK, reiterated this point at a news conference. We still have very many problems, said the Archbishop. We have the legacy of apartheid to deal with. There is awful poverty at home in many places that we can't and should not tolerate. The poor must move out of the wilderness and cross into the Promised Land. The most important thing is for every single South African to say, 'I've enjoyed the liberation dividend'.

South African high commissions and embassies around the world also held celebrations to commemorate Freedom Day. In London, a free concert was staged at Trafalgar Square featuring South African and British singers, dancers and musicians. They performed modern and traditional dances, and sang pop and gospel songs to more than a thousand spectators. The pulsating music brought together the different tribes of South Africa on the stage as they performed together as one people. Among the crowds who were waving and swaying to the music were many South Africans living in the UK.

I feel happy today as we celebrate freedom," said Guy Potia, 33. As a black person, I was not able to express myself previously during the period of apartheid. But since gaining freedom 10 years ago, we could speak and live freely.

Now we have equal opportunity, said Mandisa Voyi, 49. Our independence has opened doors for us to the rest of the world and we are proud to have gained freedom.
 
Ms Voyi's daughter, 17-year-old Nampo Mzana, who was waving a South African flag as she sat around the fountain at Trafalgar Square, said: Since getting our freedom in 1994, we have been able to mingle with white people without feeling intimidated. I feel proud of how far we have come compared to the difficult years under apartheid rule.

Another South African who joined in the celebrations in London was Sello Jelle, 40, of the South African High Commission. He sported a South African flag painted on his forehead. 

Many countries in Africa have problems of democracy, but South Africa's rise from apartheid has emerged as a practical example of democracy, said Mr Jelle. It shows progress because many people thought we would not be able to move from what we were before to what we have become today in South Africa. But we have achieved this great milestone.

Stuart Linger, a 50-year-old South African, who also proudly displayed his country's flag as he watched the performances on stage, said: It's a wonderful occasion. I am choked with emotion as we celebrate today. We have put the past behind us and rectified the mistakes that our ancestors had made and now, it's a different and new South Africa.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 181   28 April 2004