Freedom Charter 70 years on: Land reform, wealth distribution still lagging, says ANC
JOHANNESBURG – The African National Congress (ANC) believes the democratic government has achieved the majority of ideals in the Freedom Charter, except for land reform and economic transformation.
The African National Congress (ANC) has governed the country since the turn of democracy in 1994.
On Thursday, the party is holding a commemorative event at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto, where the Freedom Charter was adopted during the Congress of the People 70 years ago.
ALSO READ:
* Some Kliptown residents say govt has fallen short of Freedom Charter ideals
* Heritage sites associated with Freedom Charter neglected
The Freedom Charter was drawn up as a blueprint for what a democratic South Africa should look like.
A non-racial state, where everyone's vote counts and citizens share in the country's wealth.
The ANC's deputy secretary general, Nomvula Mokonyane, says it has been partly achieved.
'We have touched every clause of the Freedom Charter, boldly we can say South Africans are the beneficiaries of all the clauses, albeit not everything has been touched. The most stubborn is the clause that talks about the economy and the sharing of the wealth.'
Mokonyane says the country's land restitution programme has not been successful, which is why the Expropriation Act was recently signed into law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Jay Naidoo speaks on the Freedom Charter's 70th anniversary
JOHANNESBURG - In 1955 a group of people gathered on a dusty field in Kliptown Soweto to Dream about a better future for South Africa. They wrote the Freedom Charter which has become the basis for South Africa's constitutional democracy. South Africa belongs to all who live in it black and white – they declared. Some of the ideals have largely been achieved like universal suffrage that led to the democratic era and equality before the law. But things like quality education for all are still out of reach given South Africa's education standards. So are adequate housing and healthcare.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
The Freedom Charter at 70: A vision betrayed by the ANC?
As South Africa marked the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, leading voices in South Africa have raised concerns about the ideals enshrined in the nation's founding document, having been hollowed out, replaced by elite-driven agendas and systemic failures that threaten to undo the progress made in the liberation struggle. Seventy years ago, in the dusty streets of Kliptown, Soweto, the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies adopted the Freedom Charter - a bold , inclusive blueprint for a democratic South Africa rooted in the principles of equality, shared wealth, and social justice. The Charter was born from a comprehensive, cross-class, and cross-race consultative process. It embodies millions' hopes for a free, fair, and united nation. Today, as South Africa marks this significant milestone, critics argue that the ANC has drifted far from those foundational ideals, betraying the very values that inspired the struggle against apartheid. The Freedom Charter articulated a vision where 'the people shall share in the country's wealth,' land would be shared among those who work it, and poverty, unemployment, and inequality would be eliminated. It was more than a document; it was a rallying cry-a call for grassroots involvement, gender inclusivity, and racial unity. Its adoption in 1955 symbolised collective resistance, galvanising the fight against apartheid and laying the groundwork for the democratic Constitution of 1996. In the decades following democracy, the ANC claimed to be the custodian of the Charter's ideals. Yet, many South Africans now see a stark contrast between the lofty promises of 1955 and the reality of today's socio-economic landscape. Poverty persists, unemployment remains entrenched, and inequality is among the highest globally. The triple burden the Charter sought to eradicate continues unabated, raising questions about the ANC's fidelity to its founding principles. The political landscape has shifted dramatically. The ANC, once the undisputed leader of South Africa's liberation movement, is now relegated to a coalition partner in a fragmented multiparty system following its failure to secure a majority in the 2024 elections. According to Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy, this marks a pivotal moment but questions the party's direction. 'The ANC has had ample time to realise the promises of the Freedom Charter. Their inability to deliver on key clauses, particularly wealth sharing and land redistribution, reflects a betrayal of those ideals.' ' Many South Africans believe that the ANC has reneged on its promise to implement the clauses of the Freedom Charter. They base their assessment on the condition of their lives and unfulfilled promises made by the ANC in each election.' Mngomezulu drew disparities in the ANC, which holds a view that only two of the ten clauses of the Freedom Charter have not been fulfilled. 'These are clauses three, which says, 'The people shall share in the country's wealth,' and clause four, which says, 'The land shall be shared among those who work it.' However, even with these clauses, the ANC claims it is a work in progress.' He argued that it was safe to say that the question on poverty and other challenges have not all been answered, as people still lived in poverty. Political Economy Analyst Zamikhaya Maseti proposed marking the 70th anniversary by returning to the roots of the Charter and holding the commemorative events in Kliptown itself. 'Kliptown was the site where our great-grandparents gathered under difficult, illegal conditions on June 25–26, 1955, to craft a vision for a democratic South Africa,' Maseti noted. 'Their gathering produced the Freedom Charter, a lodestar for the liberation struggle. Today, we face an equally historic task: rebuilding South Africa born from their sacrifices. A nation now fractured and drifting, desperately in need of repair.' She said that 'holding the anniversary in Kliptown would root it in the moral soil of people's struggles and remove the sting of elitism that often surrounds state-led initiatives. It would strip the dialogue of unnecessary extravagance.' Maseti stressed that 'the original Congress of the People saw delegates arrive by bus, taxi, train-some even on horseback. 'Reflecting this spirit, the proposed R700 million budget for this national dialogue is seen as absurd and morally indefensible I am relieved that the Presidency rejected that outrageous proposal.' Former ambassador Lassy Chiwayo reflected on the nation's current state as the nation comme 70th anniversary approaches. He warns of a dangerous phenomenon. 'Political sclerosis' is a form of institutional rigidity that stifles progress. 'Once, the ANC was Africa's most respected liberation movement- an icon of hope,' Chiwayo laments. 'Today, what has happened to that movement, and what does it mean for our nation?' He described 'political sclerosis' as 'a state of stagnation, gridlock, and paralysis,' warning that 'when our institutions become inflexible, they stop functioning effectively, and progress stalls. The ANC is suffering from a kind of political leprosy that threatens to consume the very ideals it once stood for.' If unchecked,' he warns, 'this disease could lead to the collapse of hope and the end of our dreams for a free, liberated Africa.' Chiwayo urges the movement to shed its sclerosis, embrace flexibility, and reconnect with the core principles of liberation and service. 'Otherwise, we risk losing the very essence of what our ancestors fought for-an Africa free from foreign domination, inequality, and oppression.' Activist and author Kim Heller laments that 'the Freedom Charter lies in ruins in democratic South Africa.' She argued that 'today, the portraiture of the ANC as a devoted and dutiful servant to its citizens has all but collapsed. The party has abandoned its scripture.' Heller critiqued the current elite-driven, VIP-dominated political culture, contrasting it with the grassroots participation and volunteerism underpinning the Charter's formation. She pointed out that the proposed R700 million National Dialogue, led by President Ramaphosa, 'lacks the nation-building spirit and grassroots involvement that defined the Charter and the UDF. It appears to be an elite talk shop, disconnected from the struggles of ordinary South Africans.' Independent analyst Professor Sipho Seepe highlighted that the implementation of the Charter was doomed from the start. 'The ANC adopted a constitution that appreciated past injustices but made socioeconomic transformation difficult,' he stated. 'The architecture of apartheid remains largely intact, and inequality has only worsened, making South Africa the most unequal country in the world.' He criticised the ANC's partnership with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in government, arguing that 'the party has become an empty shell incapable of delivering on the promises of equality and justice, betraying the very ideals of the Freedom Charter.' According to Maseri, the challenge now is to reconnect with those founding principles by returning to Kliptown, the grassroots, and the moral soil of the struggles that birthed this nation. 'The task is to rebuild what was once a beacon of hope and aspiration. Only then can South Africa truly honour the sacrifices made and realise the promise of the Freedom Charter.' When asked for a comment on whether the ANC betrayed the Freedom Charter, the party's national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, stated that she would respond by Thursday afternoon; however, she did not do so by the publication deadline. [email protected] IOL Politics
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
‘You are misleading the court': Magistrate Ramlal slams State as blue lights fraud trial collapses again
At the heart of the confusion is accused number three, whose role in the case has changed without explanation. He was initially said to have confessed, but no written confession was ever filed. He was then removed from the charge sheet and quietly reclassified as a potential State witness, raising serious concerns about coercion and procedural misconduct. Image: Supplied The long-running tax fraud trial linked to the SAPS 'blue lights' scandal fell into fresh disarray on Thursday at Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, with Magistrate Ashika Ramlal sharply criticising the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and accusing the State of misleading the court. At the heart of the confusion is accused number three, whose role in the case has changed without explanation. He was initially said to have confessed, but no written confession was ever filed. He was then removed from the charge sheet and quietly reclassified as a potential State witness, raising serious concerns about coercion and procedural misconduct. Things worsened on Thursday when accused number nine, Thomas Marima, arrived in court late and without proper legal representation. Marima only met his lawyer for the first time during the court break. Magistrate Ramlal was visibly frustrated, accusing the State of using Marima's lack of counsel as a tactic to delay the trial again. 'You are misleading the court if you say you are ready for trial,' Ramlal told lead prosecutor Richard Chabalala. 'This is why South Africans are losing trust in the NPA.' The magistrate concluded that the State may not be ready to proceed and issued a firm directive: by 1 July 2025, the State must ensure all accused persons are provided with a complete and accurate charge sheet and that they fully understand the charges against them. 'You were hoping to use number nine's lack of representation as a way to secure another postponement,' she added. Defence lawyer Piet du Plessis, representing former acting police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane, was equally critical earlier in the week. 'It's 2025, and the State still doesn't have a valid charge sheet for a case that began in 2018,' he said. 'After 40 minutes, the prosecutor couldn't produce a single legally sound version.' The original charge sheet — dating back to 2021 — was signed by Herman Cronje, who left the NPA the same year. That version listed James Ramanjolam as accused number three. In the latest version, Ramanjolam is no longer included — yet his signature remains on some documentation. Du Plessis and other attorneys argue that altering a charge sheet prepared by a former official without submitting it to IDAC (Investigating Directorate Against Corruption) head Andrea Johnson for re-approval is procedurally improper and potentially fraudulent. These discrepancies have triggered calls for a formal investigation into the NPA's handling of the matter. When questioned in court, Prosecutor Chabalala admitted the errors were his responsibility, blaming 'oversights' in formatting and printing. Legal experts say such explanations fall short for a corruption case of this magnitude. Some accused individuals claim they were harassed or pressured to testify against others, raising additional concerns over fairness. Several have seen charges dropped and later reinstated, including Major General Ravi Pillay, former SAPS Head of Procurement. Businessman Vimpie Manthata and his company — listed as accused one and eight — have experienced the same back-and-forth. At the centre of the case is an alleged R19 million VAT fraud connected to Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, a company owned by Manthata. Bookkeeper Judy Rose is accused of facilitating the fraudulent claims, which form part of a broader R191 million SAPS procurement scandal involving emergency 'blue lights' equipment. The trial was expected to proceed this week, with SARS officials scheduled to testify. But the continued confusion over documents and legal representation brought proceedings to a halt once again.'This is just another example of a high-profile corruption case falling apart due to poor planning, weak prosecution, and basic legal missteps,' one legal observer commented. Magistrate Ramlal has now set 1 July as a non-negotiable deadline. 'All the accused must receive a complete charge sheet, and all must understand what they are being charged with—no more excuses,' she said. The matter is due back in court on 15 July 2025. But unless the State resolves its ongoing procedural failures, this already seven-year-old trial risks collapsing entirely.
