By Doreen Mokgolo
In high spirits to celebrate the 30 years of democracy, scores of South Africans covered the Union Buildings lawn armed with South African flags.
Many individuals dressed in ANC regalia were bussed to the event to listen and support their party leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa, as he addressed the nation.
On 26 March 1994, for the first time in 30 years since apartheid, South Africans were given an opportunity to cast their vote.
Speaking at the event Ramaphosa said: “The South African democracy is young, while most of the world’s most established democracies are over 100 years old.
“The progress that has been made in a relatively short period of 30 years is something that we should be proud of.
“We must never let our spirits be dampened by detractors, whether they are abroad or in the country, who want to diminish what we achieved in 1994 and in the years that have followed.
“Although there have been setbacks, faced challenges both beyond our borders and at home our economy has tripled in size since 1994,” he said.
He said though unemployment remains the most pressing challenge, the number of South Africans in employment increased from eight million in 1994 to over 16.7-million now.
“We have invested in improving and building new schools, colleges and two new universities.
“We are still working to remove the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from realising their full potential and living lives of comfort, security and material well-being,” he said.
Reflecting on the great strides made over the years, the president said there are still many households that still don’t have electricity or clean water and many that still go hungry.
“There is a huge divide between the rich and poor, we see the divide in access to health care, safe transport and proximity to service and work opportunities.
“At times it seems that these challenges threaten to undermine the achievements we have made over the past 30 years.
“If we work together and harness the same spirit of unity that we did in 1994, we will overcome them,” said.
Picture above: President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image source: Supplied
