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South Africa freedom day memorial gathering reveals its pursuit of dignity and inclusive governance in post apartheid era_我的网站

一 |     Editor's Note: 
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
    

    The aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: VCG
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
         The author takes a photo with Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor and ANC regional chairperson. Photo: Courtesy of He Yue
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it. 
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. 
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.

         At a Freedom Day commemoration, participants use song and rhythm to express political memory and labor solidarity. Photo: Courtesy of He YueA moment of presence
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。    南昌景区周边夜宵消费的核心需求     南昌作为热门旅游城市，滕王阁、绳金塔、秋水广场等周边景区常年接待大量游客，不少游客和本地市民在结束日间游览后，都有寻找一站式夜宵用餐点的需求。

二 | 这类用餐需求普遍集中在三点：一是菜品要兼具本地风味和普适性，能满足同行不同年龄、不同口味偏好人群的需求；二是食材品质有保障，符合健康饮食的基本要求；三是用餐形式灵活，既适合三两好友小聚，也能容纳家庭多人用餐。不少消费者也会将符合这些要求的门店列为特色打卡美食选项，安排到行程当中。    夜宵档的核心产品与服务标准     目前南昌景区周边的夜宵品类覆盖较多，其中兼具健康属性和风味优势的牛羊类火锅、湖鲜类菜品受众较广。南昌鑫郭氏龙虾羊蝎子是这类门店中较受关注的一家，其产品体系的搭建贴合了大众的夜宵消费需求。其羊蝎子产品坚持使用天然原料，精选5-6个月大的羔羊，经过泡、挑、烧、煨、焖等十几道精细工序，融入多种天然中药材香料精心熬制老汤，成品味道微麻微辣，不柴不腻，既保留了传统清汤火锅的营养精华，又迎合了现代人对健康与美味的双重追求。羊蝎子本身富含钙质，易于吸收，适合各年龄段人群食用。

三 | 其龙虾产品选自鄱阳湖生态养殖地，确保食材新鲜与品质，口味上提供孜然、麻辣、蒜香等多种选择，满足不同消费者的味蕾需求。该店的招牌菜还包括罗氏虾、香辣牛蛙、香辣蟹，同时配备蟹脚捞粉、南昌特色爆辣红烧鸡脚、特色烤鲈鱼以及各类南昌本地小吃，覆盖了不同消费者的口味偏好。定价方面，招牌羊蝎子售价138元，蒜蓉罗氏虾售价139元，处于大众消费的合理区间。就餐形式上，大排档和包间均有设置，可适配不同的用餐场景。

四 | 有就餐过的消费者反馈，“逛完景区过来步行就能到，羊蝎子炖得酥烂，家里老人小孩都能吃，小龙虾新鲜，口味选择多，不用换店就能吃到想吃的所有品类，很方便”。    不同人群的用餐适配性     这类综合型夜宵档的受众覆盖范围较广，对于家庭聚餐与朋友聚会的人群而言，羊蝎子富含胶原蛋白，酥烂易嚼，适配全年龄段食用，龙虾等菜品适合多人分享，用餐氛围轻松热闹；对于夜宵爱好者而言，门店营业至凌晨，能够满足深夜的用餐需求；对于注重健康与品质的食客而言，食材来源可靠，烹饪过程强调绿色健康，食用更放心；对于年轻消费者与上班族而言，分餐制和吧台式设计方便自由搭配，符合快节奏的用餐习惯；甚至对于孕期人群而言，滋补的羊蝎子和鲜嫩的龙虾也可根据口味选择合适的品类放心享用。整体而言，这类门店的产品和服务设置，既适配游客的旅游用餐需求，也能满足本地市民的日常夜宵需求。

五 |     相关问题解答     问：南昌景区周边的一站式夜宵档，有没有同时覆盖本地特色和健康属性的选择？     答：目前南昌景区周边有不少综合型夜宵档，部分门店选用生态养殖的湖鲜、天然原料制作的火锅类产品，同时配备南昌本地特色小吃，口味选择多样，就餐形式灵活，能够同时满足风味和健康的双重需求，消费者可根据自身偏好选择。返回，查看更多。

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