The African National Congress (ANC) says eight of the 10 clauses of the Freedom Charter have been fully implemented with the two, on wealth ownership and land redistribution still a work in progress.
This as the country marks 70 years since the adoption of this historic document.
The Charter was adopted at the Congress of the People – a gathering of South Africans of all races in Kliptown, Soweto on the 26th of June in 1955.
Although South Africans from different political formations participated in the adoption of the Charter, it remains an ANC document, which formed the basis of the country’s current day constitution.
Speaking to the SABC News, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says despite the challenges on the land and wealth clauses, they are slowly realising their implementation within a democratic framework.
“Of course we are executing the full realisation of the Freedom Charter within a democratic process which in a present moment does not favour the ANC. We have ensured that over 30 years, a better life for all is actually finding expression in our programs.”
“If you take land and wealth, we are implementing that within the framework of economic transformation, that is why we have repealed the Act of 1975 and introduced the Act of Land Expropriation. That on its own is the implementation of the Freedom Charter,” adds Mbalula.
Political analyst Moeletsi Mbeki says despite all its shortcomings, the country has managed to achieve the main objectives of the Freedom Charter.
Speaking to the SABC News, Mbeki says the country has done a lot to realise the objectives of the Charter.
“A lot of what the Freedom Charter wanted to be achieved has been achieved. For example, the People Shall Govern which is at the heart of the Freedom Charter, is democracy, and SA has a functioning democracy. We have had elections, we have lost the count, and they are run professionally. All the participants are happy with the outcomes of the elections. So, in terms of the people governing the country through a democratic process has happened. All the racial laws have been removed from the books.”
