Valencia, Spain
FREEDOM DAY
Freedom Day is the commemoration of the first democratic elections held in South Africa on April 27th 1994. These were the first post-apartheid national elections to be held in South Africa where anyone could vote regardless of their race.
On April 27th 1994, South Africans from all walks of life voted in the first democratic elections. This was after many years of disenfranchisement of black people in South Africa. This day marked an important democratic breakthrough in the history of the country.
This day is worthy of commemoration. It has been declared a public holiday to accentuate its historical significance related to the country’s democratic breakthrough.
This was the first time in the country’s history that everyone was treated as equal citizens. South Africans were finally free in their own country. It was only in 1994 that all South Africans were allowed to exercise their political rights.
Architecture & Design has everything to do with freedom. Freedom can be expressed with symbols that represent a specific topic or event. In this case, we can think of architecture as a way to manifest and pay tribute to the heritage of this important and significant day for South African people.
Slavery in South Africa existed from 1653 in the Dutch Cape Colony until the abolition of slavery in the British Cape Colony on January 1st 1834. This followed the British banning the trade of slaves between colonies in 1807, with their emancipation by 1834.
The moment which changed the path of South African history came after long and tension-ridden negotiations held between 1991 and 1992. The South African government, the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and other liberation movements engaged in these talks.
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