Freedom Day!!!!
The 27th April 1994 is a life changing day in the lives of South Africans and one that will never be forgotten. After Decades of Apartheid rule all South Africans were given a chance to vote in a free and fair democratic election.
I was at the time in my teens and can remember the day clearly even though I could not vote I went with my parents to see a change being made. I am part of what is classed as the Coloured Race in South Africa - not black and not white but a blend of European, Indonesian and Malaysian heritages. Only in my late 20's would I come to realise that the term Coloured is an offensive one to many societies around the world but to me and millions of other South Africans it is who we are.
Anyway on the morning of the 27th April 2004 we all got up bright and early and packed a picnic basket and went to queue at a local community hall. It was the first time that my parents were going to vote. The line went around the block twice and up a side street as thousands of South Africans came to vote. Only after 4 hours of standing in the sun were my parents able to make their mark. The day was filled with emotions and people came out of the polling station crying from happiness but also for those who had lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. We passed other polling stations seeing thousands of people ,some very old standing and all waiting their turn to vote.
Today we celebrate Freedom Day on the 27th April with parades, festivals & rallies so that no one forgets this life changing day. Now 14 years later we are living in a democracy were everyone is free although many people believe that the government is not doing enough, I say Rome was not built in a day. Millions of homes have been built, jobs created, electric and sanitation supplied to millions of previously disadvantaged South Africans. Above all of this WE ARE FREE!!! Free to work towards forgiving those who oppressed us and working together towards a brighter future regardless of who we are!