Freedom Day: Ramaphosa to address rally in Mpumalanga

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday address a Freedom Day rally in Mpumalanga under the theme, "united in resilience for the defence of our freedom and democracy".

The 27th of April commemorates the first time South Africa held its first ever democratic elections in 1994 following the fall of the apartheid government. 

The Department of Sports and Culture will commemorate Freedom Day at the AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo. 

It has been 31 years since Nelson Mandela cast South Africa’s first-ever democratic ballot.

Since then, there have been several changes and challenges to the country’s democracy

This year’s Freedom Day is the first following the formation of South Africa’s first-ever national coalition government, replacing the African National Congress (ANC)’s 30-year grip on power.

State and ANC President Ramaphosa has previously noted that the Government of National Unity (GNU) represents the maturing of the country’s democracy.

Several political parties are also holding Freedom Day rallies across the country.