Journalist remembers 1994: ‘Our dream has not died but it is fading’

Pippa Hudson speaks with Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist.

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

The 1994 elections were a pivotal moment in our country’s history.

Like many other historical moments, it was also a dangerous and violent time for so many people.

Fredericks was working as a junior reporter for the SABC at the time and said it was a time of tension and violence, but also hope and excitement.

“It was an extraordinary time to be alive.”

- Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist

Her experience as a young reporter covering the elections was a terrifying time where she not only lost a colleague but almost lost her life.

In January of 1994 she was covering tension in Katlehong when violence broke out and she was shot.

Only years later did she process how dangerous the situation was and how lucky she was to have escaped alive.

“We tell the stories, and we don’t realise the enormous impact it has on our mental health.”

- Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist

While she luckily did survive, some of those she was working with did not.

When she arrived at the hospital she realised she was holding photographer Abdul Shariff’s pager.

When she asked the doctor about him, she was told he died on the operating table.

After all this trauma, she voted for the first time in 1994, and says she remembered staring at the stars afterwards and thinking ‘we did it.’

“It was a moment that was forever etched in my memory.”

- Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist

Reflecting on this 30 years later, as we head into the next elections, she says she feels cynical and disappointed at where we are after the price that was paid to get here.

She adds that we as the people have the power to make change and we should never forget this.

“Our dream has not died but it is fading.”

- Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist

“The only way to resurrect our dream is through us, the people. When we realise the power we have, there is hope for South Africa.”

- Anthea Fredericks, broadcaster and journalist

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.