Freedom Day 2017 Didn’t Feel so Free for Many South Africans

For many South Africans yesterday, celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of Freedom Day felt like a day of commiseration more than celebration…

Sarah Avis said on SAPeople’s Facebook page: “I don’t know about anybody else, but I don’t feel that any of this is freedom. Nothing that is taking place in South Africa right now resembles freedom in any shape or form. There is nothing to celebrate. This isn’t being pessimistic, just realistic…”

Many agreed, saying “Freedom? Must be a joke”. Haji Bangash said “people are running from the country… coz of corrupt… thieves… stealing… killing… freedom…” Others described the rising crime, the feeling of “living in a war zone”.

Rashieda November-Everts sent in this poem he had first penned two years ago:

FREEDOM DAY

Today I am free:
Free to walk in fear
Free to see every person as a criminal
Free to be scared
I’m free to lock myself up
Free to live like a prisoner in my own home
Free to live behind bars and big gates
Free to see life pass me by
I’m free to work but not enjoy the fruits of my labour
Free to buy but not to keep
Free to hide what I should enjoy
I’m free to hold my kids hostage in their own home
Free to deny them the joy of safe play
Free to keep them caged in
I’m free to sleep with one eye open
Free to fear every little sound I hear
Free to cry every time an innocent child gets killed
I’m free to weep with families who lose their loved ones
Free to attend more funerals than celebrations
Free to see parents bury their young
Free to see families torn apart
I’m free to see children suffer
Free to see them too scared to get an education
Free to see young lives destroyed
Free to see a criminal with more rights than me
If this is freedom, then give me back my old jail cell
Where I could walk with confidence
Sleep without being scared
Play without care
Run with the wind
Laugh my heart out
Enjoy the parks, beaches and open spaces
Feel the wind in my hair
Give me the jail where I could enjoy everything that I’m being denied by my ‘freedom’

by Rashieda November-Everts

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Nelson Mandela and the Shadow that Lives on in South Africa…

Western Cape photographer and frequent SAPeople contributor Justin Sullivan uploaded the photo below of former prisoner and President, Nelson Mandela, taken by Paul Weinberg, and said: “Possibly without even knowing it, Paul Weinberg may have captured a more iconic image than originally perceived…

“As the president of South Africa [Jacob Zuma] continues to completely disregard the constitution and the people of his country, accompanied by the public’s projection of their anger unto one another – Today should be a day in which we celebrate our achievements, be grateful for our freedom and strive forward with integrity to build our nation stronger than ever. It is not only the president that has a role to play, it is all of us….

“In the photo: As Nelson Mandela reaches out to cast his ballot for a better future, the projected shadow on his body resembles a gun (a phenomenon called Pareidolia).

“Violence and all that accompanied it played a detrimental role in South Africa’s past. The election on April 27 1994 was supposed to rid of us violence, inequality, oppression and hatred. This shadow still lives on in South Africa and we are the only ones that can shine light on it.

“It takes every single South African to make that extra effort to understand one another, talk to one another and support one another. Once we can all work together, anything is possible. Violence is not the answer… violence is not the answer,” says Justin. (Read the full caption here.

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Mandela’s Reminder…

Mandela’s granddaughter, Ndileka, was actually one of the speakers at the Freedom Movement rally in Pretoria yesterday.

Concerning the future motion of no confidence in President Zuma to be debated in Parliament, she said she thinks the late icon would want “the right thing to be done”.

Ndileka said: “I would echo the words he spoke when he was alive: ‘If the ANC does to you what the apartheid government did to you, then you must do to the ANC what you did to the apartheid government’.”

Lynette van Rooyen reminisced about 1976: “I really want to comment constructively; but my heart aches! In 1976 I was a standard 8 pupil at Paterson High School – we demonstrated in unity and took over the schools, soccer field and just sat for hours singing “We are one in Jesus all of us are one…”

“We felt for our brothers and sisters in Soweto! The cops picked us up in police vans; we were taken to Baakens Street Police Station – our parents fetched us AND beat the daylight out of us!

“My mum encouraged us to first complete schooling THEN fight against apartheid! Now Pres JZ is taking all our hard work away and ruining the country!”

Hope for Tomorrow…

Youth organisation director, Yolanda Iris Footprints, sent in these messages of hope – a photo of the children she cares for (above), and an inspiring video (below) – watch number 8.

“His dream?” says Yolana… “To play professionally… not even a ball in the face will stop him.”

Watch No. 8 – following his dreams, even after being hit in the face…

“I have 29 children,” says Yolanda, “whom I love, all birthed in my heart, and they all want to positively impact South Africa… ??????”

#GoSouthAfrica #InspiringSouthAfricans