SOUTH AFRICANS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED 22 YEARS AFTER THE DAWN OF FREEDOM ON APRIL 27 1994

(FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA VOTING AT INANDA IN DURBAN ON APRIL 27 1994)

(South Africans waiting patiently to vote in the first democratic elections on April 27 1994)

(PEOPLE LINING UP TO VOTE ON APRIL 27 1994) SOUTH AFRICA’S FREEDOM DAY – 22 YEARS AFTER WELCOMING A NEW NON-RACIAL DEMOCRACY “WE APPRECIATE OUR FREEDOM BUT ARE DISILLUSIONED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH JACOB ZUMA.” South Africans will on Wednesday, April 27, observe and celebrate 22 years of the attainment of freedom on this day in 1994. For the ruling ANC it will be a day when it will hold rallies throughout the country and when its party leaders will call on their supporters not to forget that it was mainly the ANC that brought them their freedom. They will want to capitalise on this especially against the background of the crisis they are facing over the vociferous and loud calls for President Jacob Zuma to step down or be removed. The ruling ANC and its leaders will ALSO go the extra mile to highlight its role in the freedom struggles in view of the local government elections taking place in August. But how do South Africans at grass roots levels view Freedom Day and what are their reactions to the current political situation – 22 years after attaining their freedom? Subry Govender writes that while most South Africans appreciate the freedom they enjoy, they are, however, deeply disillusioned that the current state of affairs is not what their freedom icons had fought for: By Subry Govender When on April 27 1994 all South Africans – blacks and whites - went to the polls for the first time to cast their ballots for a new non-racial and democratic country, they sang and danced and generally rejoiced in the streets with shouts of “Amandhla Awethu – Power is Ours.” They gave their blessings to Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and other struggle stalwarts who sacrificed their lives for the freedom that dawned on that beautiful day 22 years ago. They were looking forward to, among other things, a transformed social and economic future. Today, just over two decades later, there’s no doubt that the ANC that was elected to power had achieved a great deal in transforming the lives of millions of former disenfranchised and marginalised black majority South Africans. While they welcome the celebration of Freedom Day, they are, however, disenchanted that the ruling ANC under the leadership of the current President, Jacob Zuma, has failed to improve the lot of millions others – socially and economically. They have failed to live up to the values and principles for which so many people had sacrificed their lives and paid the ultimate price. This, they say, are due to the high corruption menace that has engulfed Zuma and many of the government departments at national, provincial and local levels.

(Mr Andile Simelane) “It’s a very important day for South Africans,” Mr Andile Simelane, 24, told me in an interview. Simelane is an accounting student at the University of South Africa(UNISA) in Durban. He added: “We have achieved freedom after a long time of battle with the white people. But to celebrate this day is not good enough because it’s a day we are just celebrating freedom day and a day after, what will we do? “South Africans are still poor. We are not getting anything from the Government. Government does not care for us.”

(Bongamusi Shangase) Another young South African, Bongamusi Shangase, 23, is a final year environmental planning student at the University of Zululand. He said on Freedom Day he would be joining other students in discussing the values of what was attained 22 years ago. He’s concerned that black South Africans had not yet attained “economic freedom” in the new democratic South Africa. “We have not attained economic freedom but yet we have attained political freedom,” he said. “Things are still the same, people are still poor, people are still suffering, people still live in shacks, but yet the President of the country lives in a R246-million house.”

(Mr Sibusiso Mbwanja) Sibusiso Mbwanja, who is also a student, was just as disillusioned with the current state of political affairs and the downward spiral of the economy. He said: “We are not doing good, we are not doing good, everything is up and down. The ruling party, we are not happy as the youth of South Africa regarding the state of the country. It seems they are going to turn our country into a banana republic. Hey our leaders are not taking this serious. I think we must give another party a chance now. It has come to a stage where we have to look for new candidates who can take care of this job.” The people I spoke to are of the view that corruption is not the only serious social problem affecting Zuma and his government. They claim there have been a deterioration in the state health and education services – which affects mainly the poor and the unemployed. They are also concerned about the rising un-emplopyment rate and the deterioration of the rand currency against the Dollar, Euro and the Pound. Many others say they cannot enjoy Freedom Day against the backdrop of the rising violent crime rate. They no longer enjoy the Freedom in their own homes. They have to live behind high walls, security fences, alarm systems, and 24-hour rapid response security provided by security companies.

(Senzo Mbwangwa) Twenty-four-year-old Senzo Mbwangwa said at the moment he was not happy particularly with the situation regarding the President. “I am not happy at all. I think he should step down considering the situation. The Concourt has found that the President has unduly benefited from the public money. The President should step down.”

(Mr Londi Mkhize) Mr Londi Mkhize, 28, believes that Zuma would be doing the country a major service if he stepped down as President. “We must choose another president because there is too much corruption at the moment. They are busy enriching themselves, their friends and their hangers-on while the masses are struggling to make a living,” he said.

(Mr Lucas Khuzwayo) Mr Lucas Khuzwayo, 44, works as a security officer in Durban. He said he had lost all faith in leaders who had apparently forgotten about why they had been elected to office. “I would say he must be removed now especially he is old now. They must give another one a chance to take his job so that he can do a better job,” he said. “Do it for my country. I think the President must step down for a good reason. If you can look at the current statistics, I have never seen our currency doing so badly. The Dollar against the Rand is so unfavourable, the Rand is so bad. The President must step down, we must look for another fit president.” Those who are disenchanted with Jacob Zuma and the failure of the ANC to get rid of him – will today – on Freedom Day take part in protest marches in many parts of the country. This is being led by the People’s Assembly - a civil society grouping made of 75 organisations – ranging from trade unions, social society movements to political parties. Mr Mark Heywood – of the Section 27 organisation, said those who would be taking part in the protest marches would be demonstrating their disappointment with the current situation in the country. “People are angry, people feel that the President has treated them with contempt, people are also angry because of the conditions in which the people are living. The hunger, the unemployment, poor education feels like it is getting worse every day,” he said. While ordinary South Africans have come out to express their disillusionment with corrupt politicians, degeneration of social services and the increasing concern over the lack of growth in the economy – Jacob Zuma and his leaders say they are working in the interests of the people. This is no surprise – as Zuma and his fellow leaders will have to spin a positive mood on Freedom Day in order to maintain their political status and power. They know that they have lost the moral high ground in the 22nd year of our freedom.