‘We should appreciate the importance of the Freedom Charter’
Congress of the people relived as thousands gather at Kliptown to celebrate 60-years of the Freedom Charter.
President Jacob Zuma urged South Africans to recognise and appreciate the importance of the Freedom Charter.
Zuma was peaking at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter in Kliptown on Friday.
“As South Africans we should appreciate the importance of the Freedom Charter when it was adopted, now and in the future of this country,” said Zuma in from of thousands of people who were gathered at the Walter Sisulu Square.
The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Charter was attended by a few cabinet ministers including the deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Struggle stalwarts Winnie Mandela and Ahmed Kathranda graced the event as well. The president said, “We are gathered in Kliptown today to relive the most important day in the history of our country.”
Other speakers in the event emphasised on the importance of the Freedom Charter in the lives of South Africans today.
Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko said, “It is because of this Freedom Charter that we are liberated today as women.”
Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande spoke about the role of government in realising the demands of the Freedom Charter. “It is impossible for government to meet all the demands of the Freedom Charter in 20 years.
“Even though a lot still needs to be done, a lot has been done. Three million houses have been built for needy people in this country and a lot of us have electricity today,” said Nzimande.
Winnie Mandela agreed with Nzimande. She said, “20 years is not enough to achieve all promised to the people especially because the economy has not been on the side of the government.”
Kliptown is the place where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955. It was adopted in a meeting organised by ZK Mathews called the Congress of the People.
The countries’ constitution which was signed by the late former president Nelson Mandela in 1996 is largely based on the Freedom Charter. The South African constitution has been hailed as one of the best in the whole world.
