President Ramaphosa to lead Freedom Day commemoration

President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s celebration of 25 years of freedom and democracy at the 2019 Freedom Day national event at Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape tomorrow, Saturday, 27 April 2019.

The event will take place at the Miki Yili Stadium in Joza Township at Makhanda. The 2019 National Freedom Day marks 25 years of freedom from apartheid colonial oppression and the country’s development as a constitutional democracy.

Freedom Day will be an occasion for the nation to reflect on how South Africa’s freedom and democracy was achieved and on the role all South Africans  can play in growing the country together into the future.

Freedom Day is observed on 27 April each year to mark the date in 1994 of the first election in which all South Africans were able to participate.

This national day is the culmination of Freedom Month which is an opportunity for South Africans to strengthen solidarity, express pride in our national identity and promote social cohesion.

Freedom Month is a period during which the nation remembers and honours heroes who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

The theme for this year’s event is "Celebrating 25 Years of Democracy" and has added significance as it comes just days before the sixth general election on 8 May 2019 where eligible voters will once again be able to exercise their democratic right to elect new leadership for the country.

Government has invited as many South Africans as possible to actively celebrate Freedom Day in Makhanda and elsewhere around the country.

RSVP: Nangamso Gxaba - 072 321 6355


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria