Carlo Petersen, Nicolette Dirk and Raphael Wolf
AS the country celebrated 22 years of freedom and democracy, Capetonians said patriarchy, crime and poverty were stifling their freedom.
The freedom icons such as the late Nelson Mandela, Chris Hani and Steve Biko fought for is still not being enjoyed by the majority of South Africa, students said.
UWC geography Honours student Zusiphe Kapa, 23, doesn’t see the point of celebrating the day. Kapa said the police brutality students experienced during the protests last year was similar to 1976.
“Even if you look at the state of our country, people are still fighting for housing and jobs. After 22 years, there is still no freedom,” said Kapa.
CPUT student Sergio Africa, 23, said “freedom” was what brought about the #FeesMustFall movement.
“If it wasn’t for that, we would have still seen fee increases. Today, we enjoy freedom which our parents and grandparents never had.”
UCT third-year law student Alex Hotz, 25, said Freedom Day had become empty because so many black people are not experiencing it.
Despite our liberal constitution, Stellenbosch University’s Chantelle Coeser, 21, who is doing her Honours in English, said the homosexual and transgender community still don’t have the freedom to express their sexuality.
“We are seeing a surge in homophobic attacks. It is especially bad in communities where homosexual women still experience ‘corrective’ rape,” said Coeser.
Lavender Hill community leader Lucinda Evans said women were still not completely free. “As a woman in Lavender Hill, I am grateful to Tata Madiba that we have this day, but women are still not completely free because of abuse and violent rapes which often leads to death.
“Women do not have access to support or access to protection, equity or equality.
“What does Freedom Day mean to the many who are being marginalised and abused and those who suffer from institutionalised sexism?” Evans said.
Theslin Liebenberg and Miche Williams, from Rock, Girl, spoke about the experiences of a teenager growing up in a gang-infested area such as Manenberg.
Thirteen-year-old Theslin lives in Ruimte Road, which is less affected by gang violence, but the fear of being shot in gang crossfire is real.
“They never shoot close to us here, but I hear the gunshots from the other side, and it makes me scared. You never know when you can get shot living here.
“I also feel like I can’t walk around freely because there’s always a chance you might get robbed. You must always take safety precautions in Manenberg,” Theslin said.
Miche, 16, said her freedom of expression was being curbed in Manenberg.
“I can’t wear skirts that are too short or tops that show skin because then the boys and men whistle at you. We hear of lots of girls who have been raped,” she said.
Miche lives in Stormsriver Road, where rival gangsters often engage in gun battles.
“There are shootings almost every day and the merchants are on every corner. There are no other options for you here if you are poor, because they see gangsterism or drugs as the only way to live.”