Every year, at the end of April and the beginning of May, South Africa celebrates two important dates in the history of our democracy. Freedom Day, 27 April, marks the day in 1994 on which all South Africans were finally able to vote for the very first time, while Workers’ Day, 1 May, is celebrated around the world in tribute to the struggle for just and fair working conditions.

In 2018, this celebration of freedom and democracy coincides with the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu as well as the recent passing of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The struggle for liberation in South Africa extracted great personal, financial and familial costs from those involved. We pay tribute to our leaders whose personal sacrifice, courage and bravery made our celebration of  Freedom Day possible.

At the University of Pretoria, we are honoured to have been able to contribute directly to our constitution through the Centre for Human Rights who assisted in the drafting of the Constitution, which is widely recognised as one of the most progressive in the world. It enshrines the rights of all people based on values of freedom, equality and equity. These are also core values of UP, and we strive to inspire these values in our students and staff on a daily basis.

Prof Cheryl de la Rey
Vice-Chancellor and Principal