OPINIONISTA: Twenty-five years later: A youth no longer at ease By Wandile Mhlengi Ngcaweni
This speech was delivered at Jeppe High School for Boys at the school’s Freedom Day celebrations Assembly on 26 April 201I am here to commemorate an important day with you, Freedom Day. On 27 April 1994, as I’m sure you know, all South Africans for the first time stood in long queues to exercise their right to vote. This day marked a turning point in our history. For the first time, the majority of South Africans claimed back their humanity and citizenship.
No one in this country has really been “born free”. At least no young person I know of. Yes, we are born in a “post-apartheid”, democratic South Africa where we are protected by a constitution that “recognises the injustices of our past” and promises to “heal the divisions ”. The truth is… we are still battling to fix the injustices of the past and while we fail at that, divisions are growing instead of closing.
Our existence in these schools forces us to have second identities. Black students assume different personas inside the gates of these institutions than in their communities – sometimes even their homes. Teachers and members of the Gauteng Department of Education : You need to take your responsibility to teach, care and protect seriously! Crime and human rights are being violated under your noses and you cry ignorance.
It is not enough to celebrate the successes and failures of freedom in the national context. We must bring it here to this community of learners. Look how racially, culturally and religiously diverse this Jeppe family is. Look how eager these pupils are to celebrate and learn about Freedom Day even though their lived experiences in society, including at the school, are extremely traumatic?
I have stood here and spoken about the not-so-perfect parts of the school, because those are the conversations we hardly ever have at Jeppe. I have also chosen to speak about the negative realities of the country in democracy, because there is always space to be critical even in times of celebration.
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