Our 29th Freedom Day | Our freedom is much, much more than higher GDP growth rates and fatter pockets for an entrenched elite

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Thu 27 Apr   [ron_derby] Was our freedom simply about higher GDP growth rates and fatter pockets for what has certainly proved to be an entrenched elite? It wasn’t, it was much deeper. Our current travails with low growth, record high unemployment and load-shedding are blinding us to that truth. For those who were there on that autumn morning in April 1994, thoughts of a great economic future weren’t top of the mind too many. Instead, the vote was about dignity and living the long cherished idea of being recognised as a person in their land of birth. That was a mere 29 years ago, a blip in the lifetime of this or any other country. As unhappy as we are with our current status (and yes we are), it’s worth remembering that we are still a maturing democracy and our freedoms need to be cherished, celebrated and defended. I roll my eyes at the talk of getting benevolent dictators to steer our course. Why should we leave our fate to a single, all knowing man (it’s always a man) and his peers? As dysfunctional as our democracy seems at times, it somehow works — not perfectly. Coalition politics admittedly is a scary proposition especially on a national stage, but we’ve been dominated by two parties, the National Party and the ANC, for almost a century. This is our new season and it will no doubt unfold uncomfortably. There are a whole lot more voices that are going to be heard, some bad and some refreshing, a byproduct of any functioning — but not perfect — democracy. So Freedom Day marks the day when all were seen, all views heard. We’ve made some good and bad choices with that freedom. I’ve got to believe we are maturing, and are in an awkward phase. But we are free, it’s to be cherished, even as my creature comforts are under threat. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( [Eskom flag]( [ANC secures court date in lawsuit against De Ruyter]( Part A of the ruling party’s application demands a retraction and apology from the former Eskom CEO for implicating the party in crippling corruption at the power utility. This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [andrederuyter_423150]( [De Ruyter: R1 billion a month being stolen from Eskom is ‘conservative estimate’]( The former Eskom chief executive has in a submission to parliament reiterated his statement that cartels, notably in Mpumalanga, are milking the company dry [// Read more]( [AdM-Nakhane-A.D_06.22_05]( [Nakhane comes out dancing]( The South African artist describes their new offering ‘Bastard Jargon’ as an existential sex album that exchanges sad for upbeat [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Has the tripartite become an anachronism?]( Can the South African Communist Party exist effectively and independently? [// Read more]( [Review: Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED]( The Asus Zenbook 14 is a laptop for work and play; excellent for an on-the-go lifestyle as it weighs 1.5kgs [// Read more]( [De Ruyter refuses to name alleged graft-enabling minister and crooked politician]( Despite pressure from the standing committee on public accounts, the former Eskom boss stood firm, saying he was not willing to divulge identities [// Read more]( [Incoming Eskom CEO’s biggest question: ‘Who’s my boss?’]( Turning around Eskom is an operational job and I suspect that policy statements on the future energy mix will only get the prospective CEO into a deep layer of trouble. [// Read more]( [Why Steve Biko still matters]( The founder of Black Consciousness kept evolving; by the time of his terrible death he was moving away from hard-line racial isolationism. DREW FORREST traces his development in a seminal collection of writings [// Read more]( Pic of the day [An icon of freedom: Nelson Mandela raises his fist in triumph, a symbol of the country's hard-fought struggle for justice and equality.] An icon of freedom: Nelson Mandela raises his fist in triumph, a symbol of the country’s hard-fought struggle for justice and equality. [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa