By: Dale Munatswa

KwaZulu-Natal’s diverse people converged at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday morning for the Freedom Day celebrations, with different views and thoughts about the day.

Spirits were high as people cheered and sang liberation struggle songs to commemorate and celebrate South Africa’s 20 years of democracy.

The main speaker at the event Premier Senzo Mchunu was warmly welcomed by the people. As he delivered his speech, a joyful buzz came from the terraces.

Premier Mchunu highlighted the progress of the KwaZulu-Natal province in terms of infrastructural development and security since liberation in 1994. He also promised a speedy performance within the government in re-allocating land to the l people.

“We will work faster to insure that land is returned to the people in this re-opened land claim process,” said Mchunu.

Meanwhile some people shared different thoughts and views, stressing that the country still has a long way to go in providing support to the lives of people of low living standards.

Richard Gumede a senior citizen said, “The Freedom Day is okay but we want to see improvement of the lives of the poor of the poorest. Inequality is still among us. Indians, whites, blacks, we all deserve to be treated the same. The nation needs decent stability to improve; we are not here to joke or for fun.”

Mondli Magwaza who had a bad experience with one of his bosses said, “White people have helped us, but they still have apartheid tendencies. There is no freedom were a white person is in charge.”

Different views and opinions are significant components of a democracy. However, South Africans ought to work together with a common objective to sustain this well fought-for Freedom.

From the JournalismIziko team… Happy 20 years of democracy South Africa!