Programme Director
Mr Thami Ntuli, Premier of KwaZulu Natal
Cllr Thobani Shandu, Mayor of iLembe District Municipality
Cllr Siduduzo Gumede, Mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality
Members of the Luthuli Family
Distinguished speakers and guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honour and a privilege to be here in the iLembe District for this provincial launch of the Milestones of Freedom Campaign.
This district carries the name of one of the greatest warriors and leaders of the Zulu Kingdom, praised as “iLembe eleqa amanye amaLembe ngokukhalipha” which loosely translates to – “the blade that surpasses all others in sharpness”.
It is also fitting that we gather at the uMfolozi TVET College, Chief Albert Luthuli Campus, named after Africa’s first Nobel Peace Prize laureate. This iconic freedom fighter was recognised for his principled and peaceful approach to fight against the injustices perpetrated against black people under apartheid, guided by his enduring conviction that “the road to freedom is via the cross”.
Throughout this year, we will travel the length and breadth of our country, visiting provinces and communities to mobilise citizens to celebrate the gains, achievements and milestones of 32 years of democracy and life in a free and democratic society.
Today’s launch forms part of the wider rollout of the Milestones of Freedom Campaign, which was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in June this year.
The first provincial launch took place in Sharpeville, Gauteng, in July 2026, where GCIS, together with provincial government structures, hosted a memorial lecture marking the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution.
The Milestones of Freedom campaign is being commemorated through a year-long programme under the theme “Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future”. This year’s programme brings together four defining anniversaries: 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution; 50 years since the 1976 youth uprising; 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March; and 60 years since the forced removals from District Six.
Programme Director, the 30-Year Review Report of South Africa’s Democracy (1994–2024), supported by the findings of Census 2022, reminds us that our country has recorded many achievements since 1994 that have uplifted our nation.
These achievements also reflect the four areas or milestones we are commemorating this year, beginning with the adoption of the Constitution. The Constitution enshrines equality, human dignity and freedom from discrimination, laying the foundation for one of the world’s most progressive legal frameworks.
It remains the cornerstone of our democracy and ensures that all laws align with the values and spirit of our democratic order. South Africa’s Constitution is respected across the world for its commitment to human rights, judicial independence and accountable governance.
Former Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, praised the Constitution as a modern and carefully crafted charter of governance, noting its deliberate commitment to protecting fundamental human rights and securing an independent judiciary.
Its promise has been affirmed through landmark court decisions that have protected fundamental rights, advanced equality and strengthened our democracy.
These include the prohibition of capital punishment and the advancement of equality for women and LGBTQ+ persons. A defining feature of this constitutional order is the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
It ensures that each branch exercises oversight over the others, reinforcing accountability and the rule of law. This framework is further strengthened by the Chapter 9 institutions, which play an indispensable role in protecting democracy, promoting good governance, and providing independent mechanisms through which citizens can seek redress and hold public institutions accountable.
The courts and Chapter 9 institutions have over the years helped defend the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities. South Africa has also held seven successful national and provincial elections, reaffirming the legitimacy and resilience of our democratic system.
These democratic gains have supported efforts to improve people’s quality of life through wider access to education, healthcare, housing, clean water, electricity, roads, social protection and improved wages.
According to the 2025 General Household Survey, access to improved sanitation increased from sixty one point seven percent (61,7%) in 2002 to eighty four percent (84,0%) in 2025, while electricity access increased from seventy seven six point seven percent (76,7%) to ninety point six percent (90,6%).
Households with piped municipal water increased from nine - point - two million (9.2 million) in 2004 to fifteen point four million (15.4) in 2024, and eighty four percent point one percent (84,1%) of households lived in formal dwellings in 2024.
Social protection has also expanded, with the percentage of individuals benefiting from social grants increasing from twelve point eight percent (12,8%) in 2003 to thirty nine point five percent (39,5%) in 2025.
In KwaZulu-Natal, we can point to encouraging progress. Between 2002 and 2005, access to improved sanitation grew substantially, rising by thirty point six (30,6) percentage points.
Over the same period, access to water also improved, increasing by five point eight (5,8) percentage points to reach eighty one point two percent (81,2%). These gains speak to the steady progress being made in expanding essential services to our communities.
In education, South Africa had approximately fifteen point eight (15,8) million learners at school in 2025, with KwaZulu-Natal accounting for one of the largest shares of school attendance at twenty one point two percent (21,2%), second only to Gauteng at twenty two point four percent (22,4%).
This highlights the province’s important role in shaping the future of our young people and our country. Ladies and gentlemen, this launch takes place during Women’s Month, as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Anti-pass Campaign. On 9 August 1956, more than twenty thousand (20 000) women of all races marched to the Union Buildings to demand the abolition of pass laws. Their courage struck a powerful blow against apartheid and helped lay the foundation for the democratic, nonracial and non-sexist society we continue to build.
This historic march stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when women unite with courage, determination and purpose. It would not have been possible without the contribution of women from every corner of our country, including the remarkable women of KwaZulu-Natal. Among them were leaders such as Dorothy Nyembe and Mary Thipe, who played an instrumental role by collecting signatures for the petition and leading a delegation from the province to the Union Buildings.
Today, as we enjoy the freedoms of democracy, we honour their bravery, their sacrifice and their enduring contribution to the South Africa we continue to build. To give effect to their demands and guided by the Constitution, government has since 1994 introduced laws, policies and programmes to advance women’s rights, improve access to education and healthcare, increase representation in leadership, expand economic opportunities and strengthen protection against discrimination and violence.
Women now comprise approximately forty three point five percent (43.5%) of Members of Parliament, up from twenty seven point seven percent (27.7%) in 1994, and women hold the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. Of the 75 members of the Executive, 32 (42.66%) are women. We also have 14 women Cabinet Ministers (43.75%) and 18 Deputy Ministers (41.86%). Women continue to serve in senior positions across the judiciary, and the appointment of Justice Mandisa Maya in 2024 as South Africa’s first female Chief Justice stands as a landmark achievement.
Government has also earmarked a 40% public procurement target for women-owned businesses, using the state’s purchasing power to drive gender equality and economic inclusion. Despite policies and legislation to advance women's empowerment and participation in all spheres of society, many women continue to face significant social, economic and structural barriers that prevent them from fully enjoying these constitutional rights.
Poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence and femicide, unequal access to economic opportunities, limited land ownership, underrepresentation in leadership and the digital divide continue to disproportionately affect women, especially those in underserved and historically disadvantaged communities. Addressing these challenges is essential not only for advancing gender equality but also for achieving inclusive economic growth, reducing poverty and building a society where every woman can realise her full potential.
Programme Director, as we mark the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six, we are reminded that freedom must also restore dignity, land and belonging.
Government is pleased with the progress made in restoring hope through land reform as part of national reconciliation. Land reform through restitution, redistribution and tenure reform remains central to national reconciliation, social cohesion and redress for historical dispossession.
As of March 2025, eighty three thousand two hundred and five (83,205) land claims had been settled, restoring three point nine million (3.9) hectares of land to dispossessed communities and individuals since 1995. Government has also invested R58 billion in land purchases, grants and financial compensation, supporting three hundred and seventy six thousand, nine hundred and seventy six (376,976) beneficiaries nationwide.
By March 2025, five point three million (5.3) hectares had been redistributed, alongside efforts to strengthen post-settlement support, farm viability and market access. In KwaZulu-Natal, several thousand land claims were lodged by 31 December 1998, reflecting the deep and painful history of dispossession in our country. Since then, government has worked tirelessly to address these claims and restore dignity to affected communities.
To date, sixteen thousand, nine hundred and three (16 903) claims have been settled in the province, including through the restoration of land rights.
This represents a significant achievement, with a total of eight hundred and eighty nine million, one hundred and eight thousand, three hundred and twenty (889 108,320) hectares settled in KwaZulu-Natal — comprising six hundred and thirty seven million, four hundred and fifty four thousand, three hundred and eighty nine (637 454,389) hectares of private land and two hundred and fifty one million, six hundred and fifty three thousand, nine hundred and thirty one (251 653,931) hectares of state land.
These gains are not just about land; they are about justice, healing, and building a more inclusive future for our people. We also honour the legacy of the youth of 1976, whose courage exposed apartheid’s brutality and ignited resistance across the country. Since 1994, we have sought to honour their sacrifice by opening the doors of learning and transforming an education system once defined by racial exclusion into one that is inclusive and democratic.
The matric pass rate has risen from 58% in 1994 to 88% in 2025, the highest since the dawn of democracy, with more than two-thirds of bachelor passes achieved by learners from previously disadvantaged schools. KwaZulu-Natal continues to demonstrate strong progress in education, with its matric pass rate improving steadily over the years.
In the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations, the province was crowned the country’s best-performing province, achieving an impressive 90,6% pass rate, while the national pass rate stood at 88%. This achievement is a source of pride and a clear indication of the dedication of our learners, educators, parents and communities.
Through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, students from low-income and working-class families continue to access higher education. NSFAS has funded more than 5 million students up to the 2025/26 financial year, contributing to the growth of black students in higher education from just over two hundred thousand (200 000) in 1994 to more than eight hundred and fifty thousand (850 000) in 2023.
As we launch this campaign, we must remember that our road to democracy was not easy, and that the journey since 1994 has had many twists and turns. Apartheid’s damage was deep and systematic, and rebuilding our country was never going to be simple. Yet democratic administrations have worked to build a South Africa that works for all. The Milestones of Freedom Campaign calls on us to honour the past, draw strength from it, and deliver the future our people deserve.
Ke a lo leboga!
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