Freedom Day (South Africa) – April 27, 2024

History of Freedom Day (South Africa)

Following the abolition of the decades-long segregation in South Africa, Freedom Day was marked on April 27, 1994, as a multiracial election. Until then, basic human rights and privileges were denied to black South Africans by the few ruling Whites. From then on, April 27 became a symbol of freedom for South Africans. It also commemorates the efforts of national heroes like Nelson Mandela. The struggles and sacrifices of Mandela, other key figures like Desmond Tutu, and many others, brought South Africans the freedom they were long deprived of in their land.

Apartheid was a racial system in South Africa that separated the races between 1948 and 1994. During this period, the white minority was so powerful that the black majorities were overshadowed in their homeland. There were segregation systems imposed in almost every aspect of life. For example, interracial friendships and intermarriages were banned. Blacks were denied access to most social amenities. They could not live in areas specially designated for the Whites, and they couldn’t partake in national decision-making, especially in voting.

Apartheid laws grouped South Africans into four groups — whites, blacks, colored, and Indians. Of all these groups, the whites enjoyed special privileges. The rest were deprived of their most basic rights. Over three million blacks were sacked from their homes between 1960 and ’83. In the 1970s and ’80s, opposition against the apartheid regime transitioned into militancy. This led to crackdowns on the ‘rebels’ and arrests by the National Party government. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, the black people’s party — the African National Congress (A.N.C.), entered into negotiations with the government to end apartheid. The regime began to wane in 1991 and multiracial elections were held in 1994.