Thousands of Capetonians participated in Monday’s Freedom Parade, the public launch of the 10 Years of Freedom celebrations in the Western Cape. The parade saw two processions parading from opposite sides of the Cape Flats to converge at Athlone Stadium.
The mass of people were led by a procession of floats representing schoolchildren’s interpretation of a decade of freedom, and included minstrels, choirs, jugglers, drum majorettes, stilt-walkers and others.
Along the way to the stadium the throng steadily increased as the wave of people picked up passersby and curious onlookers.
The area around the Athlone Stadium was transformed into a carnival arena with hundreds of flea market stalls and crafters, graffiti walls, face-painters, a mobile stage featuring some of the province’s top radio jocks, a selection of street artists and what was billed as the biggest car ”sound-off” yet seen in the province.
Inside the stadium, a formal Human Rights Day commemoration programme unfolded, and the crowds were also wowed by an array of scheduled entertainers and national headline artists such as Kwaito star Mandoza, Brasse vannie Kaap, Potseletso and Johnny Clegg.
Sections of Klipfontein Road were closed intermittently as the procession passed, and security arrangements were in place to encourage families to attend the celebrations.
The Human Rights commemorations emphasized how far the country has come in 10 years of freedom to promote cultural diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness.
Western Cape 10 Years of Freedom celebration partners included the Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, the Proudly South African Campaign, Santos Football Club and the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre.
The provincial theme for the celebrations is ”The Western Cape: A Home for All”.
In the Northwest Province on Sunday, the province’s premier Popo Molefe said Human Rights Day was a day on which South Africans should bow their heads in honour of all those who fought bitter battles to bring human rights to all.
”We salute them and take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to cause for which they paid the supreme sacrifice,” Molefe said in a speech.
”In particular we of the North West take this opportunity to bow our heads in found remembrance of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives during the last days of the Bophuthatswana Bantustan administration,” the premier said.
He reminded his audience that on March 21, 43 years ago, police opened fire on what was meant to a peaceful protest against unjust pass laws in Sharpeville, in what is now southern Gauteng.
”Our thoughts and prayers go to members of the families who lost their loved ones during this sad moment in our history.”
The Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) on Sunday said South Africans should always remember sacrifices made by people who died and by those who participated in the 1960 Sharpeville march.
Azapo deputy president Pandelani Nefolovhodwe said sacrifices made by Sharpeville protesters had not been realised.
”The township still needs more development including the government services. The graves of the protesters who died that day are in shambles,” he said. ”People who are lying in these graves are heroes and heroines. We can do more to honour and pay tribute to them.”
Nefolovhodwe was addressing Azapo members during a memorial service in Anglican Church in Sharpeville, south of Johannesburg, as part the Human Rights Day. The day was previously referred to as Sharpeville Day.
At least 69 people were killed on March 21, 1960, in the township when police opened fire on a crowd who had gathered to protest the pass laws imposed by the apartheid government.
The Azapo members proceeded to the Sharpeville Monument after the church service.
Azapo Gauteng secretary Moemedi Kepadisa encouraged members to ”re-dedicate themselves to the spirit and ideals of the people of Sharpeville”.
”We are here to draw inspiration for the election so that those of us who will be elected into political office must remember the immense responsibility that comes with the realisation of the dreams of Sharpeville protesters.”
Kepadisa called upon young Azapo members to ”always remembers what happened”.
”The youth must realised that those who died laid the foundation for our democracy. Human Rights Day will ring hollow to many of our people if it is not accompanied by an improvement in their living conditions.”
Kepadisa said the day was concluded by a door-to-door election campaign. – Sapa