SALGA wants families to use Freedom Day to teach children about democracy

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is urging families to use Freedom Day to help children better understand the country’s democracy.

This year’s Freedom Day, celebrated annually on April 27, marks thirty years of democracy under the theme “Freedom and the rule of law; thirty years of democratic citizenship.”

The organisation is also encouraging parents and educators to use its children’s e-book to help promote responsible citizenship from an early age.

Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says storytelling can play a pivotal role in teaching young people about their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of the rule of law.

"It's very simple to go through the e-book, which tackles some of the key issues that local governance is grappling with. Issues of understanding processes, learning about municipal and government processes, active citizenship, the importance of being an active citizen, and the issue of respecting infrastructure and property in terms of ensuring that we foster a sense of ownership and pride in communal spaces,” Modiba added.