Minister Nathi Mthethwa: Launch of 2022 Freedom Month

Keynote Address by Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture on the occasion to launch 2022 Freedom Month, 07 April 2022

Programme Director:
Honorable T Shongwe, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in Mpumalanga Province.
Government officials present.
Distinguished Guests.
Member of the media.
Fellow South Africans.

Theme: The year of the Unity and renewal: Consolidating our Constitutional democratic gains. 

We are created for freedom.

It is only befitting that we are ushered into the Freedom Month 2022 celebrations by reflecting on this poignant reminder by Nobel- Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu on what freedom means.

The global icon for freedom, peace, democracy and the upholding of SA’s constitutional mandate said:  “There is something in us that refuses to be regarded as less than human. We are created for freedom.”

Indeed - we are created for freedom. Freedom to have the power AND the right to think, the right to speak as well as the right to ACT as enshrined in our constitution. It is our 26 year old constitution which resonates strongly with this: that each and everyone of us has the right to freedom of movement. It is also enshrined in our constitution that everyone has the right to freedom of expression to cite few examples.

The Hero's welcome for Grammy award-winning artist Black Coffee, which took place earlier on in the week  - is a tangible evidence of the success in our freedom of expression within the creative arts being recognised, celebrated and rewarded by the world. Our message to the world is clear: South Africa is inspired to be a winning nation. We are building a better world because the world is not only standing up and applauding our creative and cultural talent; but they are also leveraging off our WINS to define what inspiration means as articulated by the doyen of song.

As we gather to mark the official commencement of 2022 Freedom Month celebrations we note that we are still under the cloud of COVID-19, albeit the President having lifted the national State of Disaster and announced easing of some of the regulations initially promulgated to curb the rapid spread of COVI-19.

Archbishop Tutu went on to remind us that “If you want to do anything to protect my legacy, protect the Constitution.” So as we honour the symbolism behind the celebration of our freedom as a country - we reflect as enshrined in the preamble of our constitution which commits government to improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person. It is for this reason that as we reflect on the most devastating effects on lives and livelihoods, caused by the COVID pandemic - we acknowledge that our freedom was indeed restrained and our wings clipped.

Through freedom, our democratic gains as a country have been extraordinary - the dignity of millions of South Africans has and in continually being restored. It is for this reason that as we mark Freedom Month this year, we will pause and take stock of our constitutional democratic project under the theme: “consolidating our democratic gains”.

 As we mark 28 years since the dawn of democracy in 1994 - almost fast approaching the 3 decades milestone for the nation’s constitutional democracy - a review of trajectory showcasing how we are consolidating our democratic gains merits reflecting upon.

Inherent, therefore in Freedom month 2022’s theme is our conviction that besides the many challenges that have threatened to stymie this important constitutional democratic project, there are gains that we ought to safeguard. It is these gains that should provide us with a foothold to soldier on as we tackle some of the stubborn challenges that still lie ahead – including the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

One of the enduring sins of apartheid was the neglect of black communities even in terms of provision of basic services, which impugned on their human dignity. It therefore stands to reason that provision of basic services such as electricity, clean running water as well as provision of other basic infrastructure to previously disadvantaged communities was at the very core of the first development blueprint i.e. the Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP).

In giving meaning to freedom, successive democratic administrations since 1994 have had to intensify efforts in making sure that the most basic of services are delivered to the people. The 2019 Baseline Survey of the Foundation for Human Rights is one of the most reliable pieces of empirical data that offers a glimpse of South Africa’s progress since 1994 into some of these most basic of human needs.

In terms of housing, there is already an 82% of the adult population living in formal housing, although increased migration from the rural hinterlands into the major urban centres threaten to derail some of the gains in this regard. Also, increased immigration into South Africa by persons who boast no special or scarce skill, and who are principally economic migrants, has also put further strain on the housing statistics.

Sanitation, water and electricity are important sets of indicators in tracking the nation’s progress since the dawn of democracy in 1994. According to the 2019 Baseline Survey of the Foundation for Human Rights, progress has been impressive in this regard, considering the fact that clean running water and electricity were a novelty for many communities during apartheid.

Only 10% of adults reported to have access to water outside of their yards or their places of dwelling. With regards to electricity, an overwhelming majority of 92% had access to electricity. A resounding success compared to the estimate of only 53.6% in the October Household Survey of 1994. 

The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention is a strategic national vision and plan which sets out priority actions to address youth unemployment.  This includes a national pathway management network that matches candidates with work opportunities. This has enabled young people to have access to opportunities.

Through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, government has made it possible for a vast majority of the black poor youth to access higher education, which remains one of the foremost channels to break the cycle of generational poverty. Of course, as we learned our lessons from the Fees-Must-Fall phenomenon, not every deserving student has had the necessary financial assistance they require – but government has since been exploring other more efficient avenues for assistance in closing this gap

For our part, transformation of the heritage landscape, which had largely remained white, has been key. This is our own way as a sector in bringing meaning to freedom. In ensuring that the many unearthed and untold stories are given the platform through the national oral history project that we support

Through the geographical names project, we have also deliberately set the country on a path towards healing by changing names of towns and cities which have unsavory colonial and apartheid connotations. In doing so, we have always sought to consult widely in ensuring that the affected communities are part of the name-change process. Despite occasional litigation by disgruntled parties, this process has had resounding success and it thus remain work-in-progress. Symbolism is extremely important. It is also through symbolism that people feel part of a community and the broader society and geographical name change is one of those potent assistive we have available as a Department in effecting the desired social change.

As part of Freedom Month, we will have consolidated programme of activations, which involve most of government as well as state entities. This would be shared with members of the media in due course. I am also pleased to announce that Mpumalanga is our official hosts for the celebration of the 2022 Freedom Day, and Middelburg in the eNkangala District is the chosen venue.

I thank you for your attention and do hope that some of the views shared will trigger further thought and guide the panel discussion which will be taking place on Twitter space unearthing robust debate under the topic: We are Created For Freedom - Consolidating Our Democratic Gains.

We call on the nation to use the month of April to express what it means for them “to be created for freedom” - as individuals and as a collectively within the communities they live in.

We are created for freedom: Let us celebrate our democratic gains and continue to consolidate these gains for the benefit of each and everyone in our  society.

Once again, I thank you for your attention!

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