South Africans mark 50th Birthday of Freedom Charter by Mail & Guardian / Xinhua / SBS News 7:50pm 27th Jun, 2005   Johannesburg. 27 June 2005    Mbeki praises freedom fighters. (Mail & Guardian Online: South Africa)    President Thabo Mbeki paid tribute on Sunday to the "mighty legions of the freedom fighters" who sacrificed their lives to free South Africans from apartheid.    "We pledge to you that we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure the realisation of the vision projected by the Freedom Charter, which has now found expression in our national Constitution," Mbeki told about 20 000 people gathered in Kliptown, Soweto, to mark the document's 50th anniversary.    "Central to that vision is the course on which the Freedom Charter set our country when it said 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white'."    Mbeki said it would take time to see the demands contained in the Freedom Charter become fully realised in the same way as it took a long time to achieve liberation in South Africa.    "We achieved our emancipation from white minority domination after a costly and protracted struggle. We have been engaged in the struggle (to improve people's lives) for 11 years now, starting from the very first day of the victory of the democratic revolution in 1994.    "We have today, at this historic gathering, restated the objectives and freedoms enunciated in the Freedom Charter, in order to make a commitment, as did the delegates who met here at the Congress of the People 50 years ago, that 'these freedoms we will fight for, side by side ...'," Mbeki said.    After his speech Mbeki lit an eternal flame and unveiled the design of the Freedom Charter National Monument. "The flame will not go out even if it rains," Mannie Dipico, Mbeki's parliamentary councillor, told the crowd.    Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, who also addressed the crowd, praised the people who drew up the charter in 1955, some of whom were present at the celebration.    "It was your vision which inspired millions of South Africans," he said. "It was our ideals and aspirations which left us a lasting legacy of freedom and democracy. "We owe you a great debt of gratitude for this legacy of the freedom charter. We say thank you," said Shilowa, who was joined by dignitaries as he sang struggle songs before his speech.    The event was attended by African National Congress leaders and veterans from the struggle against apartheid, including former president Nelson Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, widow of Walter Sisulu after whom the venue was named, and Mandela's ex-wife and former ANC Women's league president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.    Former deputy president Jacob Zuma, whose smiling face was seen on four big screens mounted on walls facing the crowd, received a rapturous welcome. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Kgalema Motlanthe, the general secretary of the ANC. Zuma was seated not far from the newly appointed Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.    South African Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande was present, but of the opposition parties, only the Independent Democrats appeared to take part in the celebrations..    At the event most of the crowd wore white T-shirts with the words of the Freedom Charter displayed on the back.    An extract from the document reads: "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. No government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people." - Sapa    27 June 2005    South Africans mark 50th birthday of Freedom Charter. (Source: Xinhua. People's Daily Online - China).    Tens of thousands of South Africans flocked to Soweto, Johannesburg, on Sunday for a gala celebration of the 50th birthday of Freedom Charter, a document adopted by diverse racial groups in the apartheid era to pave the way for a democratic and non-racial South Africa.    South African President Thabo Mbeki and former president Mandela were among 20,000 people from all walks of life and dignitaries including ministers and lawmakers at the newly- constructed Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown near Soweto, about 30 km southwest to Johannesburg, for massive celebrations.    Mbeki paid tribute to the "mighty legend" of the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives to free South Africans from apartheid. "We pledge to you that we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure the realization of the vision projected by the Freedom Charter, which has now found expression in our national Constitution."    Addressing the grand gathering, Mbeki said, "Central to that vision is the course on which the Freedom Charter set our country when it said 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white."    He said it would take time to see the demands contained in the Freedom Charter become fully realized in the same way as it took a long time to achieve liberation in South Africa. "We achieved our emancipation from white minority domination after a costly and protracted struggle. We have been engaged in the struggle (to improve people's life ) for 11 years now, starting from the very first day of the victory of the democratic revolution in 1994."    After his speech, Mbeki lit an eternal flame and unveiled the design of the Freedom Charter National Monument. "The flame will not go out even if it rains," Manne Dipico, Mbeki's parliamentary councillor, told the crowd.    Kilptown is the site where, 50 years ago, 3,000 delegates from diverse racial groups gathered at the Congress of the People to put forward their vision of a future South Africa. It is this vision that is encapsulated in the Freedom Charter adopted on the second day of the Congress of the People.    Despite apartheid oppression and racial segregation, about 3, 000 delegates from across the country braved police roadblocks and intimidation to attend the event.    Some of them lived to see freedom in their lifetime and ushered in democracy in 1994, when anti-apartheid hero and the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), now the ruling party, was elected as the first black president of the country.    More then 300 surviving veterans once again gathered in Kliptown on Sunday to celebrate the historic Freedom Charter that inspired the struggle for freedom and the democratic constitution.    27.6.2005. (SBS World News - Australia)    Nelson Mandela has joined celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of South Africa’s historic Freedom Charter, which laid the foundation for a multi-racial future despite apartheid.    In 1955 more than 3,000 black, white and Asian South Africans gathered in the Johannesburg suburb of Kliptown to draw up the charter, just as apartheid policy came into force.    According to the charter, "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. All national groups shall have equal rights."    Fifty years later thousands gathered at the site, including politicians and anti-apartheid activists, to enjoy live music and wave the national flag.    South African President Thabo Mbeki gave a speech to thank those involved in founding the charter. "All of us are very pleased and greatly inspired that today we have among us some of the patriots who mobilised the people to contribute to the drafting of the Freedom Charter," Mr Mbeki said. "We pledge to continue to do everything in our power to ensure the realisation of the vision projected by the Freedom Charter.”    But critics have used the charter’s promise of providing jobs and housing for all to attack the government.    Several opposition parties boycotted the event because they believe the money for celebrations would have been better spent on helping the country’s poor.    The commemoration came a day before unions were due to hold a general strike against South Africa’s massive unemployment rate.    Published: 28 June, 2005    "South African workers strike over privatisations, poverty", by Zoe Daniel. (ABC News Online)    Tens of thousands of workers have gone on strike in South Africa, protesting against unemployment and poverty. In Johannesburg, Cape Town and provinces in between tens of thousands of staff stayed home from work to rally against privatisation, unemployment and poverty.    The Council of South African Trade Unions expects 500,000 people to be involved in a series of strikes between now and February.    The Chamber of Business says only 10 per cent of staff supported the strike, but cities were flooded with people wanting basic housing, services and jobs.    South African unemployment is officially around 26 per cent, but unions say half the population is not working. They want the national currency - the rand - devalued to encourage foreign investment.
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