Ruptly
"South African President Cyril Ramaphosa marked Freedom Day by calling for renewed focus on economic justice and land reform, while warning against a rise in xenophobia, speaking in Bloemfontein on Sunday. “We are making progress on land reform, restoring land to many of those who have been dispossessed of their land since the introduction of the 1913 Natives Land Act. And we are continuing to support productive lives for many families who work the land,” he said. “The progress we have made is evident in the improvements in the income and quality of life of African, Coloured, and Indian South Africans <...> But this is not enough. There is much more that needs to be done,” he added. The president also warned against anti-migrant sentiment, urging South Africans to remember the support they received during the struggle against apartheid. “We must not allow these concerns to give rise to xenophobia, to give rise to hatred that is directed towards people from other African countries or any other parts of the world <...> Others gave us compassion. They gave us support. And we cannot be driven by hatred towards them,” he said. At the same time, Ramaphosa stressed the importance of enforcing the rule of law, including tackling corruption in the immigration system and businesses employing undocumented migrants. “This Freedom Day stands as a reminder that political liberation was never the final destination. It was the beginning of a longer journey towards economic freedom and social justice.” he concluded. ”Our future will not be built by forgetting where we come from, but by acting with courage on what we have learned.” South Africa marks Freedom Day annually on April 27, commemorating the 1994 elections that ended apartheid and brought Nelson Mandela to power as the country’s first democratically elected president."
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