Celebrated on the 27th of April each year, Freedom Day is all about commemorating the country’s history and the start of democracy.
The DA celebrated Freedom Day in a very special way by reclaiming Venning Park in Arcadia, Pretoria on Tuesday.
“Celebrating Freedom Day demands a special consciousness of who we are, where we come from and where we would like to go,” said regional campaign manager, Crezane Bosch.
Mpho Mehlape-Zimu, Gauteng North regional chairperson, Fred Nel, provincial chairperson, Tshwane metro, mayor Randall Williams and Solly Msimanga, provincial leader, were also present of the reclaiming of Venning Park.
“The DA celebrated our heritage with various events during April with the key message that as a community we need not to only take stock of our heritage symbols in Pretoria which is the administrative capital of South Africa,” Bosch said.
“We also need to take co-responsibility of preserving and maintaining these sites where such symbols have been placed to constantly remind us of where we come from.
“As a tangible gesture in this regard, the DA undertook various clean-up actions during April to at least make these sites attractive from a tourist point of view and to highlight the cultural and historical significance of these memorial landmarks in our city.
“To remember is to understand and to understand helps us to respect each other,” she said.
The sites conducted as part of the clean-up operations were the Voortrekker Monument, the Koppies monument, as well as the Komjekejeke Cultural Village
“These monuments are a testament of the quest for dignity and freedom by different generations and people.
“The DA will continue to raise awareness in other spheres of government to take responsibility regarding the upkeeping thereof,” Bosch said.
“We trust that our message also hit home with the public at large in that we all have a co-responsibility to not turn a blind eye when the provincial and national government fail to fulfil their mandate in this regard.
“The DA will no doubt take the lead again in future to do what is necessary to secure these historical sites in our collective identity,” Bosch said.
“It is with joy and pride that the DA concludes this heritage theme as we celebrate Freedom Day at one of the most beautiful parks in the city.”
Bosch added that parks have a special function in any city.
“Firstly, they can be viewed as the lungs of any suburban area where population density is the reality of modern-day living.
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“Secondly, and equally important, is the fact that parks provide enjoyable and safe spaces where people from all walks of life can meet and mingle,” she said.
“In so doing we are reminded in our shared humanity and the fact that we are the same – we all can work and live and play together on our shared journey towards the future.”
Bosch said members from the DA pulled up their sleeves this week to beautify Venning Park.
“It is important that the park be restored to its former glory as it is an asset we simply cannot neglect.
“The message we take home from this event is that we have the right to be diverse, but we are unified in our quest to be free,” she said.
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