Freedom Day 27 April 2011: Republic of South Africa

Berlin 27.4.2011. The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin celebrated South Africa`s National Day on 27 April 2011.  The day is celebrated as Freedom Day and in 2011 the celebrations are centered around the theme “Working together to unite the nation, promote democracy and protect our freedom. Chargé d`Affaires a.i. Cassandra Mbuyane-Mokone said “ Today we reflect and celebrate the journey that we have travelled to achieve our freedom and democracy”.

The National Day celebrations were also be the first introduction of the new South African Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Ambassador Designate Reverend Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile.

Freedom Day for South Africans is a reminder of the struggle for a free and just South Africa.  It is a day where all South Africans celebrate the Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedom from the repression that characterised the country’s past to all South Africans. It is a day to celebrate living in a time where human dignity is guaranteed, a time free of discrimination based on race, gender, creed or sexual orientation.

Freedom Day 2011 is a day where South Africans look back at what this young democracy has achieved in the past 17 years since the first free elections in South Africa that led Nelson Mandela to the presidency on 27 April 1994.

Since then the country has come a long way and has now established itself as a key partner economically and politically on the global stage. This year sees South Africa as a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations – along with Germany. South Africa recently joined the economic partnership of emerging markets, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) so that it is now referred to as BRICS.

For the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Berlin, the past year has seen many events centering on the World Cup displaying its music, heritage and rich culture. Together with our diversified partners, the South African flair was brought to Germany and a myriad relationships and partnerships were formed during this important and exciting period. These can now develop and blossom so that the excellent bilateral relations will continue to grow.

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