Freedom Day - 27 April 1994 to 27 April 2018 - 24 years of Democracy in South Africa - Still a long way to go.

Today is Fredom Day in South Africa. On 27 April 1994 South Africa held its first post-apartheid, democratic elections, where all South Africans, of all race groups and ethnic backgrounds could register to vote, and cast their ballots to bring South Africa into a new era of democratic governance.

The African National Congress (ANC) won that election with a vast majority of 62.9%, and the late Nelson Mandela, then President of the ANC, became the first democratically elected President of South Africa, inaugurated on 10 May 1994.

It was a turning point in South African history, which brought so much hope to so many people.

Nelson Mandela led South Africa through a turbulent time of transition, and held fast to his integrity, and spirit of reconciliation, always seeking a united South Africa. While he may have had a checkered past during his years in "The Struggle," his leadership of South Africa during his time as President cannot be faulted.

Nelson Mandela votes for the first time in his life. Image Source
The New South Africa has not seen a leader with the integrity, reconciliatory spirit, and uniting vision, as did Nelson Mandela. No successor has even come close. South Africa has come a long way forward since 1994, but there is still an even longer way forward to travel for South Africa to truly be free of the shackles of the past.

South Africa owes a great debt to Nelson Mandela, and has an obligation to exercise their freedom to choose the right path to really achieving that untied and free South Africa which he fought to hard to realize.

With the right people in charge, anything is possible.

^{Team Australia, Team South Africa, and The Alliance banners by @bearone
My Awesome Upboks by @ryivhnn}