There is a peculiar weight to the word freedom in South Africa. It rolls off the tongue easily, appearing in speeches, holidays, and hashtags. However, after the landmark elections of 1994, the essence of that word remains wide open to interpretation.We were promised freedom. But did we define it? The glow of 1994 has long since faded into the routine struggles of daily life:
- Youth unemployment remains above 45%.
- Gender-based violence continues to escalate.
- A recent VAT hike scare, which caused an economic upheaval further exacerbated by Trumpian theatrics.
All of this adds to the sense that South Africa is off balance, navigating a storm with no compass. In moments like these, it is tempting to give up and retreat into cynicism. However, the greatest threat to freedom today is not political corruption, youth unemployment, or even GBV. It is resignation. Too many have quietly stopped believing that change is possible. This is the final stage of unfreedom: when people internalise and embrace powerlessness and forego personal agency. Freedom Day was never intended to be just a nostalgic celebration of past political victories. It was meant to serve as a reset button. A fundamental reimagination of society. Too often, we have confused emancipation with transformation. The vote was the key, it was never the house.
Freedom in 2025 must mean more than remembrance. It must mean responsibility. It means:
- Building businesses, not just sending out CVs.
- Holding the government accountable, not waiting for rescue.
- Creating opportunity, not just seeking it.
- Voting consciously, not emotionally.
- Speaking up in communities, workplaces, and families, not to criticise for sport, but to build with intent.
It calls us to a new level of civic maturity. We must cast aside the need for perpetual validation from the past and instead embrace the power of personal agency.
After three decades of democracy, we have shed the skin of adolescence. This nation is ready to be bold and unapologetic. No longer can we afford to delegate responsibility to the state, the GNU, or the haunting remnants of colonialism. The time has come to ignite our potential and to look within for the strength to shape our own narrative. Philosophically, freedom is not given. It is taken and then maintained. It is not a status. It is a muscle. It must be exercised:
- In how we vote,
- Where we spend,
- What we build, and
- What we refuse to tolerate.
It is the decision to confront hard truths. Like the fact that many of us have grown comfortable with inequality, if it does not affect us personally, or that we have allowed cynicism to replace effort, not because nothing works, but because hope feels risky, and despair is easier.
Struggle icons fought valiantly against structural barriers, and through their struggles, they achieved monumental victories. However, as we stand on the cusp of a new era, the mission has evolved. No longer is it solely about dismantling oppression. It is about embracing the challenge of self-directed nation-building.
Frantz Fanon reminds us, “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it, in relative opacity”. This statement carries a weight that demands reflection. In our quest for a better future, what does our mission truly entail? Are we prepared to answer the call, or will we allow ourselves to be paralysed by complacency and expectation? Ours is clear. Whether we fulfil it or betray it will not depend on the government alone. It will depend on millions of us choosing to build something better, brick by brick.
That is the heart of Freedom Day in 2025. The baton is in our hands now—not the government’s, not the struggle icons’, not our parents’. Ours.
About the Author
Mbonisi Ndlovu is a legal professional focused in private wealth, tax and fiduciary services. He holds an BA Law degree, an LLB and a Masters in Tax Law, and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in International Tax, equipping him with the understanding of both domestic and international laws that govern wealth, and governance.
He is a member of the BMF’s Policy and Research Committee, where he contributes to the national dialogue on transformation, economic reform, and inclusive growth. In addition to his professional work, Mbonisi serves as Chairperson of an NPO committed to social upliftment and grassroots skills development.
