15 Years Of True Democracy- South Africa’s national celebration day

“Fifteen years ago, the people of South Africa took to the streets to cast their vote - many for the first time and in the process changed their destiny. Their votes consolidated democracy and created a South Africa united in diversity.” H.E Thanduyise Chiliza, South African High Commissioner in Uganda, said while he commenced the celebrations. It was the way in which the fourth general election was carried out on the April 22 last week that demonstrated the level of political maturity the people of South Africa have reached since 1994. Even though progress may still be uneven in the different facets of the people’s lives, there is no doubt that freedom has given them the possibility to move the country away from apartheid and open new opportunities in the search for a better life for all South Africans. Talk of celebrations for freedom, a troupe from South Africa known as Umoja meaning spirit of togetherness brought out the real meaning meant for such a day. From step to step as South Africa changed from the time of apartheid until what it is now, is quite a log way but would be enjoyable to watch if it was made as a show. “A country was like a young boy when he is growing up, has a problem with his mother and the more he grows in to an older person, he crops up wrangles with other mothers.” My South African neighbour interpreted the Xhosa as the members of the troupe sung. With vigour inclusive of the male and female, they danced as fellow South Africans applauded and sung along with them, it was indeed the time to celebrate their freedom. It’s certainly not a time to moan and remember the days of torture by the white colonialists or even their fellow black people that had betrayed them in the name of either money or survival. Carousing and partying was the only term to give to this event that was carried out at the South Africa’s High Commissioner – Uganda’s residence in Kololo on April 27 this year. As the country grew, they fought to join together while they were being torn apart because men had to go to cities to work for their families, leaving their families behind. At the function, H.E Thanduyise Chiliza urged Africans to invest in Africa since many investors are shunning away from advancing in this Dark Continent. All this was approved by the troupe leader who beseeched people to use their talents to overcome poverty in Africa. Like any other country, modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000 years. At the time of European contact, its indigenous people reflected migrations from other parts of Africa, where new tribes had become dominant including Xhosa and Zulu. During the Dutch and British colonial years, racial segregation was informal. Power was held by the colonists while in the Boer republics and subsequent South African governments, the system became legally institutionalised and known as apartheid. They established three classes of racial stratification: whites, coloured (including mixed-race people of European and African origins, as well as Asians, and mixed-race Asians), and blacks, or indigenous natives. Apartheid was established by law in 1948, and additional legislation, such as the Immorality Act outlawing relations among people of different racial groups, hardened the legal boundaries. At the same time, political movements grew internally among indigenous, mixed-race and whites who opposed apartheid. At one time the Communist Party actively supported racial justice. In 1990, the then-president F.W. de Klerk was pressured to dismantle the apartheid legislation. In 1994, South Africa held its first democratic election as Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) came to power. Last week on April 22, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma the President of the African National Congress (ANC), was elected as the president for South Africa. In 1994, South Africa made Africa proud and with the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it will make Africa shine. Had the elections not gone on smoothly, this World Cup would probably be taken elsewhere. If South Africa can do, all African nations can. Let’s celebrate their victory as our own and try to emulate them. Ends