Freedom Day Commemoration

Freedom Day Commemoration
(Assembly : 25 APRIL 2003)

Monday is a public holiday because this Sunday, the 27th of April, we celebrate the anniversary of the first truly democratic elections that were held in South Africa on the 27th April 1994.

That historic day was characterised by the sight of long queues of South Africans, of all ages and races, waiting together to cast their ballots - many for the first time - for a new South Africa that promised new freedoms across a wide spectrum of political, social, economic, cultural and sporting issues.

But that day was also the culmination of the struggle of many people who had never lost sight of the need to fight for the freedoms that would later be embodied in our new constitution. South Africa is still beset with problems, but today so many more choices and opportunities are open to us within and outside South Africa. Internationally we have the world's best-loved statesman in our own Nelson Mandela whose life was committed to achieving justice and freedom for all, and whose calm wisdom and lack of bitterness after 27 years in prison has done much to enable the people of South Africa, previously separated by Apartheid, to come together on a day-to-day basis at schools and in the workplaces, and through sharing common experiences, discover a new, uniquely South African identity, and share the common goals that are embodied in the Preamble to our Constitution.

Here follows that Preamble whose spirit informs the Constitution itself - certainly one of the most enlightened in the world; as we listen to these words, however, we must remember that although they are the most noble of ideals, only we, the people of South Africa, can make them a reality and that is the challenge that lies before us.

We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of the past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country;and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.

We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to

Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;

Lay the foundations of a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;

Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person;

and Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations

The struggle continues today between those of us who uphold these ideals, and those whose short-sighted selfishness and greed are more important. But it is worth re-visiting these goals and values, and to understand why they are worth guarding and fighting for - and ultimately to understand that the safety and freedom of each one of us depends on them.