TOMORROW
South Africa will celebrate Freedom Day. Archbishop Desmond Tutu played a key role in fighting for freedom of this country. His mural on Longmarket Street helps us remember his journey and our freedom.
TODAY Independent Media unveils its Freedom Day campaign, ahead of South Africa’s 27th year of democratic inclusion.
The theme of this year’s campaign is a strong reminder that, while the country has come far, it still has a very long way to go until there is complete inclusion and, therefore, real freedom.
“True freedom in South Africa can only be realised when all voices are heard and acknowledged,” said Aneez Salie, Independent Media’s editor-inchief.
“We are not there yet, as the conversation is still, to a large extent, very one-sided, which is why Independent Media has committed to standing up, to prevent the chasm of silence from growing any bigger than it already is.”
Salie was referring to the Campaign’s title, #UnmuteFreedom, which reflects how so many South Africans are not heard when it comes to accessing the basic principles of the Constitution.
These include access to education, health care, housing, water, clean air, and even financial support and the most basic of banking facilities. The campaign also draws attention to the fact that many of these basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution are, in themselves, inadequate and/or deliberately exclusionary, even if they are available.
“We will never allow South African voices to be silenced again,” said Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media.
“This year’s Freedom Day is particularly poignant, with our country facing increased challenges given the ongoing onslaught of Covid-19, which has radically shifted the goals in terms of what freedoms we have always taken for granted.
“This period of change has also highlighted just how big the divide is between matters such as decent education, an affordable one, and a free one, where those without access to the modern tools that make the digital world spin are being left behind,” said Survé.
Going further in underlining the differences that still divide us and prevent an economically prosperous egalitarian society from being fulfilled, Survé said: “Freedom does not require for there to be a free-for-all access to the country’s coffers, but future freedom does necessitate that South Africa’s people are given the welcome, means and ability to participate, which they are, at present, denied.
“Sadly, over the past 27 years, we have learnt that we cannot take any form of freedom at face value, which is why our #UnmuteFreedom campaign encourages all South Africans to speak up and speak out, so that those who have the means can make the changes that are still required for complete independence to hear us – loud and clear.”
#UnmuteFreedom will run for the rest of the week. It will include an icon, which will be used each time an article appears – online and in print - and will highlight something contrary to what Freedom Day allegedly stands for.