Hundreds of people arrived at the Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley to attend national Freedom Day celebrations on Thursday.
President Thabo Mbeki would address the gathering to commemorate the country holding its first democratic elections 12 years ago.
Security at the stadium was tight and long queues had already formed at most of the gates.
Inside the stadium, the crowd was entertained by Khomani San!, Xun!, Khwe and Nama clans of the Khoi San people performing traditional dances.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Age of Hope through Struggle to Freedom.
The day’s activities are intended to contribute towards uniting South Africans in celebrating freedom and democracy.
ANC ‘assault’ on Constitution
Meanwhile, the ruling party’s behaviour in the Western Cape is a ”direct assault” on the Constitution and its freedoms, Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Thursday.
”Such behaviour is not only dangerous; it is a direct assault on the Constitution and its freedoms — including the freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of political choice,” Leon said in a statement to commemorate the country holding its first democratic elections 12 years ago.
He said the African National Congress has resorted to intimidation and violence in an attempt to destroy Cape Town’s multiparty government.
City mayor Helen Zille laid a charge of assault after ANC supporters hurled chairs at her and threatened her with a knife at a meeting in Crossroads on Saturday.
Leon said at the council meeting that elected Zille, ANC councillors openly threatened some of their colleagues.
He said the country’s freedom is measured, in part, by how incumbent governments accept defeat. ”By that measure, the recent behaviour of the ANC in the Western Cape should be a source of concern and even alarm for all South Africans.”
The DA recently took power in Cape Town after the local government elections.
After the attack on Zille, the national government issued a statement condemning the incident. — Sapa