HAPPY FREEDOM DAY, BUT BE CAREFUL!

Though it has come a long way, it was only from the 27^th April 1994 that the Country of South Africa attained its democracy and freedom.  The Freedom Charter of 1955 and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 have become the nation’s Bible bearing a number of essential commandments.

 

However, neither the Freedom Charter nor the Constitution will hand us the freedom we so long fully desire unless we allow for other people to be free, and share in our freedom.  Possibly through tribulation or through past experience, we have grown to become a self-centred nation.

“But what’s in it for me!”     “What about me and my own interest!”

You are bound to hear these sentiments whenever you talk of the apportionment of the freedom and or Constitutional fruits amongst all citizens.  Perhaps let us pause to ask ourselves some questions; hopefully we may be able to come up with the answers.

 

1.    Who is the Nation?

2.    How are we preventing other people’s freedom?

3.    Have we remained true to ‘this Bible’ and it’s Commandments?

4.    What should we do now?

 

Well firstly, South Africa is comprised of different race groups; a variety of tribes with their unique cultures, traditions and languages; Creed and religious subscriptions, and they all combine to give us a Nation – the Rainbow Nation.  Secondly, after the marvellous attainment of this freedom and democracy, as well as in the midst of government’s current efforts of redress, transformation and bridging the gap between the previously disadvantaged (Blacks) and the privileged (Whites), there now seem to have risen a worrisome phenomenon where the Black Africans overwhelmingly feel that they should solely own the Black card.  They do this by criticizing and asking for other groups to be ostracized from the mainstream Social and Economic opportunities, and this can be seen further by the on-going calls for the destruction and removal of certain statues or monuments commemorating freedom fighters such as Mahatma Ghandi.

It will remain a fact that Ghandi stood against the injustices and systems of Apartheid, regardless of whether he’d fought for Black Africans.

 

Thirdly, having witnessed that government leaders and institutions have on numerous occasions been brought before the courts, and have had the courts ruling against them, makes one ask the third question.

And lastly, in celebration of Freedom Day, we shall all be allowed to ponder and answer the fourth question –HAPPY FREEDOM DAY…BUT BE CAREFUL!