Freedom Day: Ramaphosa, Steenhuisen, Malema share their messages

Happy Freedom Day to all of our fellow South Africans. This may be the most restricted one of the lot, as we celebrate the occasion behind closed doors. A public holiday during lockdown is a strange experience, but our political leaders have shared their messages of hope and respect to commemorate the occasion on Monday:

Freedom Day messages from our political leaders

ANC: Cyril Ramaphosa praises Cuban influence

“The theme for this year’s Freedom Day is: ‘Solidarity and the triumph of the human spirit in ‘challenging times’. It is fitting that on this day we should welcome Cuban health experts who have arrived in our country to support our efforts to curb the spread of disease.”

“Cuba and South Africa share a special bond with strong historic relations spanning decades. Over 732 South Africans, many from previously disadvantaged communities, received years of training in Cuba since the inception of the Nelson Mandela / Fidel Castro medical training programme.”

This deployment is a demonstration of the strategic partnership and solidarity between South Africa and #Cuba and a good example of South–South cooperation. We thank HE President Díaz Canel Bermúdez for responding to our call & we forever remain grateful to the people of Cuba.🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/kh9Tvvp5eU

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 #StayHome (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 27, 2020

FF Plus: Pieter Groenewald pleads for lighter lockdown

“It is ironic that we are celebrating Freedom Day today when we do not really have much freedom. It can, however, help to drive the true meaning of the concept home for the people of South Africa and make them realise just how significant freedom really is.”

“We’re appealing to the government to unlock the economy at a faster pace so that the public can get back to work and earn an income again, subject to the implementation of stringent health and safety measures. There will come a time when we’re free from the restrictions that this disease has placed on our freedom.”

DA: John Steenhuisen warns government to “respect our freedoms”

“As we celebrate our freedom under this spectre, it gives us more time to reflect on our freedoms. We must now acknowledge we can’t take our liberties for granted. We must ensure that we do not allow the infringement of our freedoms. The temporary cannot become the permanent.

“Whether it is the mass deployment of the armed forces, or the limitations on people’s movements, we need to acknowledge that we cannot allow these measures to be anything but temporary. We have rights as citizens, and we must be allowed to protect them. Let’s keep expanding our freedom in South Africa.”

EFF: Julius Malema’s Freedom Day warning

“This day which has come to be known as Freedom Day comes at a time when we are going through great difficulty, not only as a nation but as a people all across the world. It is a day that has come to be known as Freedom Day, as it was a day that was meant to be the first step towards the liberation of our people.”

“As revolutionaries, it is important that we remember this day as an important transition to a democratic dispensation, but not one where we achieved Independence. Many sacrifices and compromises were made, which saw the economy remain in the hands of the oppressor. Power remains with the white minority”