The Department of Arts and Culture celebrated Freedom Day in Sunnyside, Tshwane on Friday.
The event was attended by various government officials and celebrities.
Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa said: “Thirty years ago, because we were divided on the basis of race, a policeman would come to an event like this, which has been attended by people of various races, and order us to disperse.”
Kodwa said in the olden days of apartheid they used to sing a song called ” Siyaya Epitoli” as the seat of government of the apartheid regime was in Pretoria, but today Freedom Day is being celebrated in the selfsame Pretoria.
“We are no longer divided on the basis of race, and we are going to celebrate Freedom Day all year long,” he said.
Asked as to what the importance of voting was as many youths don’t participate in elections because they are disgruntled, Kodwa responded as follows:
“When you vote, you don’t vote to resolve current challenges, you are voting for the generations to come, the children and the children of your children, because the problems we face now may not be resolved now.”
Kodwa added that many of the people who gave South Africans the right to vote have died, but they fought for that right to vote.
“When you vote, it doesn’t mean tomorrow there will be water, you are voting so that your children and grandchildren must never experience the same problems we are experiencing today,” he said.
He pointed out that many musicians like Hugh Masekela and Mirriam Makeba left the country and mobilised the international community against apartheid through their music.
“We are calling on South African to come to Union Buildings Tomorow (27 April 2024) to celebrate Freedom Day and there will be lots of artist who will be performning,” he said.
One of the musicians who performed at the Freedom Day celebrations, Hilda Tloubatla of Mahotella Queens, expressed joy for having been given a chance to perform at the event.
“Our group Mahotella Queens was established in 1964 and we are still going strong even today, though some of the original band members who died have been replaced by younger musicians,” she said.
Tloubatla urged all South Africans to go and vote on 29 May in the forthcoming general elections.
One of the people who attended the celebrations, Clement Maosa, told Tshwane Talks that to him freedom means black people have for the last 30 years been allowed to walk freely in the streets without fear, go to any school of their choice, and for kids to have freedom of culture and heritage.
“I think this is milestone that we must celebrate,” he said.
Teboji Mashego said the youth must be happy about freedom and change their wayward behaviour.
Vuyo Nqukana said South Africans must do more about the freedom that they have.
Eemoh said Freedom Day celebrations remind him that he can do whatever he wants to do within the confines of the law and urged all South Africans to do likewise.
Renowned songstress Yvonne Chaka, who shot into fame in 1985, also performed at the Sunnyside Freedom Day celebrations.
Other celebrities and musicians who graced the occasion are former Miss Mamelodi Sundowns beauty queen Faith Nonyane, Master KG, Lady Du, Eemoh, actors Gabriel Temudzani, who plays the role of a chief in the TV series Muvhango and Clement Moosa who plays the role of Kwaito in Skeem Saam.