S-African youths try to make sense of freedom

  1. Posted on Thursday 5 May 2011 - 19:27
    Simphiwe
    Image of Simphiwe
    Simphiwe Gwija, VoicesofAfrica mobile reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity hallmarks Freedom Day celebrations on the 27th of April of each year. The road to democracy was a long and difficult one.
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    Since the arrival of the White man at the Cape in 1652, the indigenous peoples of South Africa came under White control and domination. Soon all peoples of colour were denied the vote and hence a say in the running of the country. South Africa was never truly independent nor democratic. The exclusion of the majority of South Africans from political power was at the centre of the liberation struggle and resistance to white minority rule.

    In the 17 years of democracy the youth are still struggling to find themselves and where they really belong, even today lot of the youth they don't know why are we celebrating the 27 April. Chatting to few of the youth who feels that democracy belongs to those who have money as they control it.

    Remembering the reason why we celebrating freedom day, mean while others still bears the scars of the past apartheid regime, fighting the psychological effects on the youth it's going to difficult as there are influenced by technology and peer pressure. Losing hope in getting bursaries has really, finding pleasure in alcohol, drugs.

    The President honourable Mr Jacob Zuma stated that we come from a painful history that has occurred for many years, it's going to take time for development and service delivery but they are working on speeding the process. ‘Working together we can do more’.

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