Edition April 2025

The documented events of 27 April 1994, were a culmination of the literal blood, sweat and tears of patriots who dedicated their lives to ensuring that South Africa treated all its inhabitants equally and fairly.

As the country commemorates Freedom Month, government remains committed to serve all people of South Africa and ensuring that everyone’s right to freedom and democracy is respected. The Freedom Month celebrations provide an opportunity for the country to reflect on progress made in transforming the society, while also examining the challenges.

Aligned with the current socio-economic and political landscape, this year’s Freedom Month will focus on the progress made since 1994 in building a united and inclusive nation. It will also reflect on the country’s collective resilience in safeguarding democratic gains, while critically addressing ongoing challenges.

About 90% of South Africans now have access to piped water, with over half of those having it inside their homes.

While more could be still be done, the achievements reflect a government working to restore dignity. The steady progress has seen the country’s biggest cities battle the strain of urban migration and cross-border immigration.

Despite the progress, poverty endures. According to the Lived Poverty Index, about community – past and present. Among those spearheading the charge was Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, the founder of the Pan Africanist Congress, a liberation movement founded in April 1959. The momentous events of April 27, 1994, came just short of 16 years after he succumbed to a gallant fight against lung cancer in the hinterland of Kimberly, a city he had been banished to by the oppressive apartheid regime.

In line with this, On 28 March 2025, the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, in collaboration with the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Trust, and the National Heritage Council, hosted a landmark centenary celebration in honour of the stalwart, who would have turned 100-years-old in December 2024.

Sobukwe, born on December 5, 1924, in Graaff-Reinet, played a pivotal role as a thinker and leader in South Africa’s fight against apartheid. As a founding figure of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), he spearheaded the landmark anti-pass protests in 1960. His uncompromising stance on African self-determination and a non-racial society challenged the apartheid state, leading to his prolonged imprisonment and political silencing.

Centenary celebration

Held under the theme, “Return to the Source: Rekindling the Values of Robert Sobukwe,” the event sought to revisit and reaffirm the values that define Sobukwe’s life – integrity, courage, Pan-Africanism and an unyielding belief in African self-determination.

Held at the Botanical Gardens in Graaff-Reinet, Sobukwe’s birthplace, the event featured an engaging programme designed to educate, inspire, and reflect. Political thought leaders, historians, and activists delivered key- note addresses and participate in thought-provoking dialogues about Sobukwe’s enduring impact.

Delegates also visited Sobukwe’s childhood home and other historically significant commu- nity sites, allowing attendees to walk in the footsteps of the late leader.

The event was followed by the launch of the official Robert Sobukwe Exhibition at Freedom Park. Hosted by the Freedom Park, in partnership with the Robben Island Museum, the exhibition will run from April 1 to 30 June 2025. The multimedia exhibition features photos, writings, personal artifacts, and letters. The interactive displays highlights his role in the anti-pass movement.

Preserving history

The centenary celebration also marked the beginning of a significant partnership between Freedom Park, the Robert Sobukwe Trust, and academic institutions – to preserve and archive Sobukwe’s legacy through multimedia exhibitions, oral histories and educational resources for future generations.

Sobukwe once declared, “True leadership demands complete subjugation of self, honesty and integrity, uprightness of character, courage and fearlessness, and above all a consuming love for one’s people.” These words echoed throughout the centenary celebration, reinforcing the call for a South Africa guided by justice, unity and humanity.

Speaking to the SABC’s Channel Africa at the launch of the centenary celebrations, Dr Jane Mufamadi, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Park, said the event aligns with the institution’s mission to honour those who contributed to SA's liberation.

“We are remembering Professor Sobukwe because he was one of the towering figures in our liberation struggle,” she said. She noted that the liberation stalwart’s commitment to a non-racial society and his powerful belief that “there is only one race, the human race” remained deeply relevant.

Speaking at the event, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, who is also the president of the PAC, hailed Sobukwe as a man of “powerful and impactful words”.

“It was through his words that the apartheid government realised that Sobukwe targeted their policies and programmes for direct opposition and dismantling. They knew his words were not the usual vague petitioning and virtual begging for better living conditions from his oppressors,” he said.

This year’s Freedom Month is commemorated under the theme, “United in Resilience for the Defence of our Freedom and Democracy” – a tribute and honour to those who gallantly fought for the liberation of the country.