South Africa is preparing to mark Freedom Day, 30 years after its first democratic vote when Nelson Mandela's ANC swept to power. Three decades on, with the economy sluggish and a third of people out of work, many argue the ANC has failed to deliver on the vision of a new, open, and inclusive society with opportunities for all.

Hammanskraal

South Africa is set to commemorate Freedom Day, marking 30 years since its pivotal first democratic election. This election, which saw Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) ascend to power, was a significant milestone in the nation's history. It represented a shift towards democracy following years of apartheid rule. However, three decades later, the country is grappling with economic challenges and high unemployment rates, leading to criticism of the ANC's governance.

Residents of Hamanskral, a community North of Pretoria, are expressing their dissatisfaction with the government's handling of public utilities. Over 100,000 people in the area rely on water delivered by trucks due to a lack of access to clean, reliable water sources. The community attributes this situation to government mismanagement and neglect. Financial instability is cited as a primary concern, with the belief that government actions predominantly benefit those in power rather than addressing the needs of the broader population.

Corruption, infrastructure deficiencies, and poor service delivery are significant issues facing South Africa today. Unemployment has soared above 30%, and the public's frustration is growing evident as essential services falter. Examples of failed projects and misallocated funds underscore the challenges in improving living conditions. The situation in Hamanskral, where funds intended for the Reval Reservoir repair were largely unutilized, highlights broader governance issues.

Thirty years ago, the first democratic election fueled hopes for a new era of opportunity and equality. Yet, many South Africans, reflecting on the decades since, question the progress made towards realizing that vision. As another election approaches, parties are focusing on the widespread perception that the promise of a new South Africa remains unfulfilled.



South Africa to mark 30 years since first democratic vote

It's not because of drought that water is delivered by truck to more than 100,000 residents in this area called Hammond's Crowd. Here they blame mismanagement and neglect. We ask the government to take pity on us because we're suffering with the water. Don't you think that by now they should be fixing these problems? I think so, but then the problem with our government is that the financial stability in this country is very low. With finances, I don't think our government is ready for whatever they are doing. Whatever they are doing, I think, benefits them. This is a huge community, Hammond's Crowd, just north of the capital, Pretoria, that doesn't have access to reliable, clean water. And that's just one public utility that is failing millions of South Africans 30 years after the first pre-election in this country. Nelson Mandela's ANC won a landslide victory in that election, but the post-apartheid promise of a better life for all was never going to be easily met. Corruption took root, inequalities widened, unemployment now stands at more than 30 per cent. And poor service delivery has become the target of public anger as rubbish piles up and electricity cuts out. The main problem with our country is infrastructure, and especially when you get issues of tenders. You get people giving tenders, but the government is never following up to make sure that their projects are done. Hence we have, for example, the issue of Reval, where a lot of millions were released to fix, but only about five per cent of the work is done. There was a time when the taps ran clean in Hamanskral, before the misuse of funds intended for the repair of Reval Reservoir. Just as there was a time when the future seemed brighter. Before 1994, I was so excited about the coming government. But do you think enough progress has happened in this country? I don't see any. I don't see anything. With another election looming, parties are competing on a common theme, that something in what used to be known as the new South Africa is broken. Jonah Hall, Al Jazeera, in Hamanskral.

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