science & innovation
DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development
Department: Science and Innovation REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Individual and Society
CoE-HUMAN • NEWSLETTER April 2026
Freedom Day Freedom Day, which is observed annually on the 27th of April, commemorates the anniversary of South Africa’s first non-racial election held in 1994 and celebrates the country’s liberation from Apartheid, a system in which a minority held political control over the majority. This day is significant because it symbolises the foundation of a new democratic government and the end of more than three centuries of colonialism, segregation, and white minority rule. On the 10th of May 1994, Nelson Mandela, then leader of the African National Congress (ANC), became the country’s first black president when the party received 62.65% of the vote. All racial groups in the country were given the opportunity to choose their own government for the first time. The 1994 elections led to a new democratic regime and constitution for the country. While Freedom Day is significant for black Africans, it is also celebrated by all South Africans who embrace the concept of freedom. The research presented below by Dr. Bhoola and Dr. Leal, CoE—HUMAN grantees, highlights both the country’s post-apartheid accomplishments and its ongoing challenges.