30 years of freedom and democracy: 'It's all falling apart'

This year marks the 30th anniversary of South Africa's democratic era, commemorating the nation's inaugural democratic election on 27 April 1994, known as Freedom Day.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead the national celebrations for Freedom Day 2024 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria this weekend.

“This commemoration calls on all South Africans to honour our past, celebrate our achievements, and collectively build a future where everyone enjoys equal rights,” the Presidency said in anticipation of Saturday's festivities.

Sharon Ekambaram reflects on 1994. She recalls a tangible sense of hope and unity that bound the nation together, transcending differences.

But 30 years later she laments, 'it's all falling apart,' citing increasing 'animosity, othering, and xenophobia'.

Failure to implement socio-economic reforms to address inequality in the country is the reason for this deterioration, Emkambaram says.

She underscores the challenges of internal migration, noting how it manifests in political parties exploiting racial divisions to garner support ahead of the 29 May elections.

Drawing parallels, she criticises parties like Herman Mashaba's ActionSA and Gayton Mckenzie's Patriotic Alliance for exploiting xenophobia to scapegoat migrants for electoral gain.

Ekambaram asserts that the key to strengthening democracy lies in holding the government accountable.