Celebrating freedom’s 30th birthday.

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings Welcome to the end of another week … and another day closer to 29 May. This weekend we’re celebrating freedom’s 30th birthday. That might sound facetious but we assure you that we’re sincere. It’s easy to drown in the corporate platitudes of “30 years of democracy”. But freedom is something we all understand. Freedom is an idea that our country fought for; that people died for. And one that we too easily take for granted amid the busyness of our lives. We set out to portray what freedom means to the people of South Africa. From those who set up the 1994 ballot boxes and those who slid their votes into them to the so-called born-frees who have only known freedom thanks to 27 April 1994. Starting today, we will be dedicating pages, in print and online, to republishing the eternal journalism committed by our colleagues of the past. Thirty years ago they were given the formidable task of documenting the dawn of democracy. We both celebrate it and look to it for lessons to guide our own responsibilities next month. Luke Feltham, acting editor-in-chief [Gettyimages 2068282523 594x594]( Premium [If voters compel us to work with the EFF we will, says IFP president]( Velenkosini Hlabisa also defended the Ingonyama Trust Act, which he said had been beneficial to black people in KwaZulu-Natal [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [220516 Thungela Amd Spill Puttick 1 (1)]( Premium [Toxic acid mine water continues to rise underground on East Rand]( The situation is frightening, says an anonymous source who used to work at the department of water and sanitation [// Read more]( [Thebrothers©suzybernsteindsc 2570 (1) Min]( [Aficionado notes brilliant use of music in state capture play]( The political drama about corruption and power is clever, gripping and insightful [// Read more]( Recommended Reads Premium [Property sales slow ahead of poll]( The uncertainty created by the possibility of a coalition government is putting people off big-price buys [// Read more]( [BHP makes takeover bid for Anglo American]( The proposal entails Anglo significantly lowering its exposure to South Africa by demerging its holdings in beleaguered Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore [// Read more]( [Trends suggest social cohesion is on downward slide]( In recent years, when social cohesion has been discussed in South Africa, it has been with an increasingly critical undertone [// Read more]( Premium [Battle continues over coal mining in the Mabola Protected Environment]( A coalition of environmental justice organisations says the proposed coal mine will have an adverse effect on the functioning of downstream ecosystems [// Read more]( Premium [‘The term coolie isn’t hate speech’]( The EFF member has been ordered by the court to apologise to the Indian community for his comment [// Read more]( ADVERTISEMENT Our newsletters [[M&G Mornings Newsletter]M&G Mornings Daily newsletter featuring independent journalism and in-depth reporting.]( [[The Green Guardian Newsletter]Green Guardian Award-winning climate and environment coverage delivered every Wednesday.]( [[Webinars Newsletter]Webinars Your opportunity to stay informed and be a part of our engaging webinar events.]( Subscribe & support independent journalism Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscribers get access to all premium articles & features, amongst other benifits. [Subscribe Now]( Africa's Better Future [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( The Mail & Guardian · The Metal Box · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, GP 2001 · South Africa