Freedom Day 2025: much is yet to be accomplished
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament
Tomorrow marks 31 years since South Africans, from all walks of life, stood together in long lines under the sun to cast their first free vote. On 27 April 1994, the shackles of apartheid were broken, and a new chapter of democratic hope was born.
As the United Democratic Movement (UDM), we join our fellow compatriots in commemorating this sacred day, Freedom Day, and honouring the memory and sacrifice of those who made it possible.
Freedom Day is not only about remembering our past, but also about confronting our present and shaping our future.
We acknowledge the enormous strides our country has made. We are a democracy with one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. South Africans enjoy freedoms that were once denied to the majority: freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to vote. However, we must ask: are our people truly free?
When learners in Diepsloot and Riverside are denied placement in schools, when some schools remain without scholar transport, and others still carry desks on their heads just to learn; our children are not free.
When communities in Ntuzuma and Vhembe are denied access to clean water, a basic human right, they are not free.
When gender-based violence continues unabated, when young women like Cwecwe are failed by the justice system, and when sexual misconduct persists in our institutions; women are not free.
When the Compensation Fund fails injured workers for 12 years, and when Eastern Cape doctors remain unemployed while our healthcare system is in crisis; our workforce is not free.
When the streets of our inner cities crumble with potholes and corruption scandals like the “Money Pool” in Mdantsane shake the public trust, then governance is not serving the people, and our democracy is at risk.
True freedom must be measured by the dignity and well-being of our people. That means a functioning state that delivers on its promises, that protects the vulnerable, and that holds officials accountable when they fail. It means education that empowers, healthcare that heals, and jobs that restore dignity.
As the UDM, we have consistently spoken out on the issues that threaten this vision of freedom. Whether it’s demanding audits and accountability for failed municipal projects, exposing failures in basic service delivery, or defending human rights in the face of crisis. We believe that our democracy must be defended not just by words, but by action.
Freedom Day is also a time to celebrate our resilience. Despite the challenges, South Africans remain hopeful, innovative, and determined. We are a people who know how to stand together in times of difficulty - from township streets to rural villages to university halls. This spirit of unity is the heart of our democracy.
Let us not allow our freedom to be hollowed out by neglect, corruption, or apathy. Let us demand more; not out of entitlement, but out of the belief that democracy must work for everyone.
On this day, the UDM calls on all South Africans to recommit to building a country that reflects the dreams of 1994: a South Africa that is just, fair, and free. We urge government at all levels to act with integrity, transparency, and urgency. We urge civil society and citizens to remain active in shaping our future.
This Freedom Day, let us honour the past by working for a better tomorrow. Let us make freedom real in every home, every school, every clinic, and every corner of our beloved nation.
Happy Freedom Day, South Africa.
