27 April is South Africa’s Freedom Day. On that day in 1994 all South Africans were finally given the opportunity to vote for a representative government in a democratic, free and fair election. On that same day, 44 years previously, on 27 April 1950, one of Apartheid’s most hated laws – The Group Areas Act – was promulgated. This Act led to the dispossession of thousands of people.

South Africa also shares a day of freedom and liberation with Togo (independence from France) and Sierra Leone (independence from Britain). Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of an independent Ghana, died on this day in 1972 (22 years before South Africa was free). This is relevant to our identity as citizens of Africa.

The University of Pretoria strives to contribute to the freedom enjoyed by all South Africa’s people by promoting, amongst others, access, diversity, academic freedom and fairness. We encourage you to take time on this day to consider how you will make the freedom that you enjoy today matter in building a better South Africa.