Freedom Day celebrations move online
This year’s Freedom Month celebrations surround solidarity and triumph of the human spirit during these challenging times.
As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture will be marking today’s (27 April) Freedom Day celebrations using online platforms.
“Freedom Day, as South Africans know, it is very different this year. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed things from the norm,” said the department in a statement on 26 April.
The theme for this year’s Freedom Month celebrations is solidarity and triumph of the human spirit in these challenging times.
The department would like to encourage all South Africans to take the opportunity to reflect through various online platforms with recorded messages.
“It is a time to reflect, be responsible and stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, and ponder on the progress we have made as a country in moving South Africa forward.”
This year’s Freedom Day marks the end of our 25th year of freedom and democracy, and the start of the 26th year.
“It is a marked departure from colonial and apartheid oppression spanning over 400 years, to a democratic constitutional order, underpinned by the values of democracy, equality, non-racialism, and non-sexism, among others,” added the department.
Happy #FreedomDay South Africa!
Today marks 26 years of freedom and democracy.
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." Tata Nelson Mandela
#UnitedInOurFreedom #StayHome pic.twitter.com/bsamU8eFeG— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) April 27, 2020
This year also marks the 24th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution into law, by President Nelson Mandela, in Sharpeville.
“Freedom Day is thus an ideal platform for reflection, in terms of the progress made thus far in fundamentally transforming South African society, on some of the strategic gains made. It is also a time to contemplate the persistent challenges that threaten to stymie progress, if left unchecked,” the department concluded.
