Honourable N.M. Hadebe, MP
Honourable Speaker,
Our presence in this House today is a powerful testament to the deep sense of ownership that millions of South Africans feel toward our democracy. Every party represented here reflects the full spectrum of our nation’s diversity across race, culture, language, gender, and background. We stand here not by chance, but because of the conscious choices made by the rich and the poor, the young and the old alike. As the late uMntwana waKwaPhindangene, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, so rightly observed: “Amongst the various national holidays that we observe in South Africa, Freedom Day is perhaps the most inclusive.”
There is much more to our shared history than 27 April 1994. Nevertheless, it is important to celebrate this reference point. To disregard it is not only to diminish our collective journey, but to dishonour the memory of the many brave men and women who gave their lives so that we might live in a free and democratic South Africa.
It would be disingenuous to claim that no progress has been made since the advent of democracy. However, a critical question the IFP continues to ask is: How free do South Africans truly feel? Political liberation was never the final destination—it was merely the first step in a much longer journey toward genuine freedom from the social ills that continue to plague our society. The enduring legacies of apartheid are still evident today, manifesting in poverty, underdevelopment, crime, persistent gender inequality, poor service delivery, and the continued lack of access to quality education, decent housing, adequate healthcare, and the hope of a better future for our children. The IFP highlights these realities because we recognise that true freedom is not only about political rights—it is fundamentally shaped by the material conditions in which people live.
Freedom without social justice is an illusion—hollow and incomplete. When inequality persists, when poverty, discrimination, and exclusion remain entrenched, the promise of freedom rings false for many. Without social justice, freedom becomes a privilege enjoyed by the few rather than a right guaranteed to all. A person cannot truly be free if they are trapped in a cycle of poverty, denied quality education, or left without access to healthcare, safety, or opportunity. In the absence of justice, freedom loses its transformative power and becomes a source of frustration rather than hope. For freedom to be meaningful and enduring, it must be underpinned by fairness, equity, and the active dismantling of structural barriers that deny dignity and opportunity to millions.
Freedom is not merely the absence of oppression. With freedom comes responsibility. It demands active citizenship, accountability, and a commitment to the welfare of the country. True freedom requires that we not only cherish our rights but also ensure they are extended to all, especially those still burdened by inequality and exclusion. In this way, the IFP believes that freedom becomes a shared project, one that we must nurture, defend, and grow together.
Freedom Day is about acknowledging that we are all equally responsible for the future of South Africa, because we all have an equal say in who best represents our interests. Thank you.
