Democracy In South Africa Essay

1076 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The rise of Nelson Mandela

COMMEMORATING 20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY
On 27 April 1994 South Africa cast aside centuries of discrimination and oppression to form a new society built on the foundation of freedom and democracy. The last 20 years of freedom made it possible to stand together and begin to build one country that belongs to all who lives in it.
President Jacob Zuma stated that South Africa is much a better place to live in than it was in 1994 (citing theguardian.com, 2014). The year twenty fourteen presents an opportunity for society to rejoice the successes the country has conveyed. This essay serves to elucidate on how the country has progressed in realising its objectives it set in 1994,for example education, health system,transformation,economic growth and sustainability.
However must never forget that the road to democracy was not easy, as South Africa was colonized by the British government post 1948 in charge of apartheid government said Davenport (2007:36). Society did not have equal rights and the law favoured white minority. Black people were systematically stripped of their basic human rights including rights to vote. The society had to carry pass documents that were used to control were they lived and where they could work. Apartheid denied Africans opportunities to open their businesses.
Majority of people were not provided with access to basic municipal services such as clean water and sanitation. Health care services were limited with inadequate facilities and shortage of health professionals and medical suppliers. No black students were allowed in Universities and in private schools.
Democratic of South African inherited racially different education system and differential departments of education to also accommodate of disabled peo...

... middle of paper ...

...hievements of our young nation. It is of the country’s roadmap to also work towards the next 20 years. This commemorating of 20 years is also a tribute to a fallen hero who was the first president of a democratic South Africa.

REFERENCE
Davenport, T.R.H, 2007, South Africa: a modern history, California: Macmillan, 36
Grant Thornton International Business Report-Q3:2013
Jonathan D, Jansen, Yusurf Sayed, 2001, Implementing Education Systems: The South Africa Expereince, Cape Town, Juta and Company, 2001:74
National Treasury,(2013). “Budget Review”
Owen Gibson, 2013, The Guardian, Tuesday 18 March
Jonisayi Maromo,Mail&Gurdian,April 27
Statistics South Africa, (2012). “Census, 2011” Statistical Release, Po3014.
South Africa History online: Freedom Day: 27 April (online) accessed January 2014. Available fromhttp://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/freedom-day-27-april.

Show More
Related

  • Effects Of Imperialism In South Africa

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    South Africa was positively affected in the way that before the Dutch and British, South Africa had been split up into many different tribes, who though they were free were not united. Through the centuries of hardship South Africa came out of apartheid very strong and the ANC has maintained a popularity of 60% popularity for all the elections since 1994. Economically South Africa has blossomed and is the 2nd largest economy in all of Africa and has managed to triple its GDP even though it has been less than 30 years since it has left apartheid, established democracy and freed itself from many international sanctions. South Africa’s economy still has many issues though for it is still an underdeveloped country which suffers from lack of education, employment, and crime. Socially South Africa remains strong as it is united under one goal of making its nation once again great, and it has maintained its heritage and culture. In fact, a quick look at a South African site will show many articles and memorials, of days in the past remembering the struggle for freedom. Politically, South Africa has remained strong and united with the ANC still carrying the vast majority of the votes and uses a governmental system quite similar to ours with a separation of powers and a thriving democratic system. Luckily, political diversity has also started to appear with many other groups appearing making the most out of South Africa’s democracy and all of which pledge freedom and are led by native

    Read More

  • Sub-Saharan Africa

    1817 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...bances began to emerge, and the economy began to drop. Unrest cost many lives, until demands for change were heard and the political system was revised. In 1994, the South African people went to the polls for the first time and held a democratic election in which Nelson Mandela became president. The country of South Africa has made strides in healing their broken country.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Nelson Mandela's Speech

    500 Words  | 1 Pages

    He opens his speech with “I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.” (Mandela)

    Read More

  • Democracy Essay

    1322 Words  | 3 Pages

    A true democracy is nearly impossible to attain since the ancient Athenians. However, many countries have tried very hard to get democratic governmental systems up and running. Operating a democratic government requires many different aspects of the nation to run efficiently. One of the many ingredients to a well-run democracy is a politically active and participant citizen population. Without a high count of political participation and a complete use of free speech and freedom of the press, no country can be deemed democratic. This essay will assess the level of democracy in powerful nations like Russia, the U.K, and Pakistan, and argue why democracy is influenced greatest by both an active and a politically participant citizen population and a right to free speech.

    Read More

  • John Locke's Belief That People Are Born with Rights

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...f South African language and culture, acknowledgement of the racial oppression in South Africa, past and present, that it was wrong and positive action is required to make it right, and finally that all South Africans are legitimate and enjoy full moral equality (“About – DA”). In order for all this to be possible, the state must ensure it does not compromise the freedom of the individual (“About – DA”).

    Read More

  • Sociological Imagination By Charles Wright Mills

    3079 Words  | 7 Pages

    Furthermore, I will apply such understandings and concepts to education/schooling in South Africa by discovering a challenge and by discussing its public issue and personal trouble. Charles Wright Mills The child will be disadvantaged in the sense that it will affect them publically and personally. It affects a child personally, due to the fact that it affects their ability to learn, read and write therefore, causing them not to perform to the best of his/her capability. It also affects their emotional well being, therefore causing them to end up with behavioural and emotional difficulties because they become frustrated due to the fact that they cannot communicate.

    Read More

  • Salva Kiir's Speech 'Former Nelson Mandelas'

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    University of Pennsylvania-African studies center. Inaugural speech, Pretoria (Mandela)- 5/10/94 in Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech-Pretoria ,May 10 from ancdip@WN.APC.ORG

    Read More

  • Long-term Effects of European Colonization on Africa

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    The End of Apartheid - HistoryWiz South Africa. (n.d.). HistoryWiz: for students, teachers and lovers of history. Retrieved February 19, 2011, from http://www.historywiz.org/end.htm

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Nelson Mandela

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    1. Thesis: Nelson Mandela’s courage brought justice to his country and greatly improved South Africa overall.

    Read More

  • Amy Gutmann's Theory Of Democratic Education Analysis

    1482 Words  | 3 Pages

    Reda (2015) states “If we want to see the world as a just and fair place where everyone is given equal opportunities, education is what we require. Education is a must if we want to do away with the existing differences between different social classes and genders. It opens a whole world of opportunities for the poor so that they may have an equal shot at well-paying jobs.” Creating education in a democratic state has been aimed by many states, theorists, philosophers and so on. Countries in this era have succeeded is aiming for a democratic education, some are getting there and other countries fail in creating a democratic education. The manner in which manner is received plays a crucial role in the life of everyone but as much as that is important to the human existence, the manner in which education is given is just as vital. The below will discuss Amy Gutmann’s theory of democratic education briefly, the South African education system and the extent to

    Read More

  • One of the Greatest Leaders: Nelson Mandela

    2310 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ellent policies, 5) the Constitution had come into existence through the working together of various groups that had composed South Africa, 6) South Africa's political and economic institutions are well established, 7) and that South Africa is by far the most developed country in Africa. However, there are still avenues that can impede further progress, more so economically then politically. Primarily the lack of foreign investment, especially when South Africa's gold and diamond reserves are emptied as other parts of economy are not as developed. Secondly, the economic gap between whites and blacks that was stretched during the time of apartheid needs to be tightened or else it could become dangerous to the stability of the political system. However, due to the leadership of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s current government structure exists to solve these issues.

    Read More

  • South African Apartheid

    1513 Words  | 4 Pages

    South Africa really began to suffer when apartheid was written into the law. Apartheid was first introduced in the 1948 election that the Afrikaner National Party won. The plan was to take the already existing segregation and expand it (Wright, 60). Apartheid was a system that segregated South Africa’s population racially and considered non-whites inferior (“History of South Africa in the apartheid era”). Apartheid was designed to make it legal for Europeans to dominate economics and politics (“History of South Africa in the apartheid era”).

    Read More

  • Apartheid Essay

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Apartheid in South Africa became a huge issue due to the loss of human rights. Apartheid segregated and created problems between the whites and blacks of South Africa. Many of the blacks of South Africa had their rights violated due to the National Party making the white minority more powerful. Which automatically made the white richer and the black poorer. This was all changed when Nelson Mandela and F.W. De Klerk joined the African National Congress (ANC) and stood up against the National Party which created a more equalized South Africa.

    Read More

  • Poverty In South Africa Essay

    1572 Words  | 4 Pages

    The results of this research showhow South Africa faces many challenges when it comes to poverty and education. Education is the most important industry in South Africa and it is being treated like a priority. Many social issues, for example poverty, have an influence on education and makes it and even bigger challenge. The businesses in the education industry have to deal with many challenges, caused by poverty. It is difficult to adapt and/or to deal with these challenges, especially in the macro environment because there is no control over the elements of the macro environment. However, these schools should consider the above solutions to these challenges as they could be helpful.

    Read More

  • The Soweto Uprising of 1976 an education Related Outcry by Students

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    South African received her long awaited right to democracy in 1994 with the majority of the exiles returning home in the early 1990s.

    Read More

More about Democracy In South Africa Essay

Open Document