South Africa: Premier of the Free State Province – Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae greeted Happy Freedom Day to Mzansi people on April 27, 2025 by sharing a rich history based on its significance. She described the reason of celebrating the day and expressed herself.
She began with the lines marked to bring the change, when American crooner Sam Cooke penned ‘A Change is Gonna Come’, the lack population in the USA were feeling the weight of oppression.
In South Africa, it was a similar situation if not worse, as the people were forcibly removed from their areas, jailed without trial, viciously tortured and killed by an illegible and discredited regime. Those who dared to stand up to the apartheid regime, were brutalised. A well-known activist – Griffith Mxenge was murdered in a brutal manner by the apartheid death squad.
Mxenge was murdered in order to scare other activists in what can only be described as a barbaric manner. His assailants inflicted 45 lacerations and stab wounds that pierced body, lungs, liver and heart. His throat was slit and worse, they ripped his stomach open.
Maqueen continues to tell the story and shares that the Cradock 4 also met the same grisly fate. They were murdered and their bodies set alight. There were also unconfirmed reports that their killers, in celebration of their ghastly deeds, drank copious amounts of brandy and gorged on meat.
These are some of the horrifying incidents which preceded our freedom, and that is how much our freedom cost, added the Free State Premier. She mentioned, “It was not handed to us. Nobody gave it to us on a silver platter. We fought for it. We shed tears and blood for the realisation of this freedom that sadly some take it for granted.”
“That is why, exactly 31 years ago on this day, we were all filled with immense pride when we finally had the chance to vote,” claimed Maqueen. This historic day was characterised by long, snaking queues and bird eyed helicopter views of South Africans, black and white, who had been longing for a chance to elect their representatives to lead the government.
She added further that, after years of bloodshed, simmering tensions and near racial violence, the country was standing on a cusp. The moment all South African had finally arrived, as at long last, South Africans were going vote.
The people of South Africa would, bring to life what the Freedom Charter envisioned when the Congress of the People declared. She emphasised, “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people.”
As the will of the people prevailed that day, South Africa was unshackled from the bondages of apartheid and colonialism. Maqueen expressed that looking back at the past 31 years, they can all agree that a lot has been achieved. We have restored the pride of the people by providing them with shelter here.
She mentioned that they have sent thousands of their youth to school. The federation has assisted a number of people to establish their own businesses and today, as most of them are a shining example of excellence.
The Free State Premier exclaimed that they have done this and much more. However, they are the first to admit that they should have done more and they must do more. The South Africans must look back and find out where they may have been derailed on the path.
To finally lay claim to victory and the freedom of the people, as they ought to address many of the lingering social challenges that still persist to this very day. Out of all the brutalities one of them was Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
According to Premier of Free State Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae their province is besieged by the scourge and the collective efforts are required to put an end to it. She added, despite the challenges they faced, they are not going to stop. Their voices will never be silenced, ever again. they will scream on top of the lungs until the voices are hoarse. They will be heard. Freedom is coming.
She ended her thoughtful writing piece with the quote by former President and true Freedom fighter who was all behind their freedom – Nelson Mandela, “Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.”
Nelson Mandela is regarded as a champion of freedom in South Africa and in the entire world. However, this quote by him expresses the belief that freedom is a permanent and enduring achievement, something that should be celebrated and protected forever.