30 Years of Democracy

The Democracy Bus spent the month of August in the Western Cape. On board are dedicated officials - bringing with them the message of celebration and hope.

We had the privilege of getting on the Bus as it transversed the Western Cape, as it seeks to celebrate the country’s 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy by highlighting the achievements of the democratic government and invite dialogues with communities on how to improve their lives.

The town of Hanover in the Northern Cape is dubbed the ‘middle’ of South Africa. It sits halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town; between Cape Town and Durban, and between Upington and Port Elizabeth. 

Hanover falls under the Emthanjeni Municipality.

Besides its interesting geographic location, it is home to Olive Schreiner, the acclaimed late author of The Story of an African Farm, who championed women’s rights and was an anti-racist. The trailblazing Schreiner lived between 1855 and 1920.  

The commemoration of 30 years of democracy provides an opportune moment to reflect on the advancement of our democratic rights. One of our foundational human rights essential to keeping our democracy alive is access to information which is promoted through South African libraries.

Accessing information is crucial for our vibrant democracy especially since our history is marked by an apartheid regime that thrived on secrecy, lack of transparency and accountability which robbed citizens of essential information for making decisions.

South Africa's democracy has restored the dignity of millions of South Africans and changed the lives of its citizens for the better, said Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa.

Addressing the launch of national Freedom Month in celebrating 30 Years of Democracy, the Minister urged South Africans to acknowledge the remarkable progress made since the dawn of democracy in 1994 as the country commemorates this significant milestone.