By Khumo Makame
By Khumo Makame
The Northern Cape Department of Sports, Arts and Culture hosted Freedom
Day commemoration under the theme “Freedom and the Rule of Law: Thirty
Years of Democratic Citizenship” for the Francis Baard District on 27 April 2026.
The event brought together artists, young people, and community members
for reflection, dialogue, and cultural expression.
The day's activities included poetry by the noted Soldier Poet, a panel
discussion on funding issues for local artists, and a cultural performance.
Stalls were also erected for local artists to showcase and sell cultural items,
highlighting the district’s artistic talent.
A departmental representative, Nomsa Majola, said the department was
tasked with hosting similar events in all five districts, with the mandate to
organize 100 people.
“We thus saw it fit to invite 100 artists,” she said.
Elaborating on the thin line between rights and responsibility, Majola said:
“With rights comes responsibility, and for us as the citizens of this country, we
often emphasize our rights and neglect responsibilities towards those rights.
One of our major responsibilities is to be active and to participate in programs
which protect those rights.”
Panellists unpacked what freedom means 32 years into democracy.
Reflecting on the day, Kgatliso Manake shared that he was a young boy,
playing cars with his friends outside the house on that specific day when his
father made him aware of the significance of the day.
“I was between 6 and 7 years old. My dad called me inside to watch as
President Nelson Mandela was being inaugurated on TV. As a little boy, I felt
like my dad disturbed my friends and me as we were still enjoying ourselves,”
said Manake.
Manake highlighted that the role of young people of today is to challenge
unjust laws.
In response to a question raised as to 'What does Freedom Day mean’
Obakeng Jacobs quoted a prominent line that Nina Simone used in 1945, that
‘freedom is having no fear.’
He was referring to having no fear of hunger, given that 30 years down the
line, the majority of those affected are young people through unemployment.
His statement highlighted the unemployment rate of 32%, poverty, and
inequality, which generate fear.
Another artist, Olebile Mothelesi, emphasized the importance of rules and
laws.
Noting the challenges faced by such as funding, he highlighted that while
regulations might feel like "red tape," they provide the necessary stability for
society to function and grow.
“The rule of law is an indispensable framework for social order rather than a
restrictive burden,” said Mothelesi,
Kamogelo Moeketsi, 22 years, shared her life experience and called for
improved access to education and technology. According to her, she does
appreciate the political freedom, but feels she does not have economic
freedom.
“I currently hold a degree, but I am unemployed,” she said.
The event organisers have since committed to hosting quarterly sessions to
allow for more inclusive dialogue with artist and the art community after
attendees raised frustrations of not being allowed to engage with the panel,
and threw accusations of one-sidedness.
Comments are closed.