WITH Mzansi celebrating 30 years of democracy, there are mixed reactions as some people feel there's something to celebrate while others have different views.
Many people said the promises that were made when South African headed to the polls for the first time on 27 April 1994 have not yet been fulfilled.
Daily Sun spoke to some residents in Alexandra, east of Joburg, who expressed that they were excited and happy 30 years ago when they went to vote for the first time because they had hoped that their lives would change for the better.
But instead, they're still living in the same dire circumstances they did for years.
Thobile Shabangu said she's yet to receive everything that was promised in 1994. She said they were promised houses, but she still lives in a one-roomed house.
“I have never owned a house in my 48 years of living. I'm still cramped with my family in a tiny house in some passage in Gomora,” she said.
She said there's nothing to celebrate on Freedom Day on Saturday, 27 April because government has failed to fulfil its promises to her.
Gogo Jane Sibande (77) said she voted at a time when things were hard in the country and they were fighting for freedom, not what she sees today.
She said things have changed compared to 30 years ago because they fought for a good cause, but people are now fighting to enrich themselves.
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“I've even stopped voting because there's nothing worth voting for. I was part of those who were on the ground fighting apartheid and when we went to vote for the first time, I was happy and thought our blood and sweat have finally paid off.
“The people we were fighting for and also voted for understood what we needed and worked for us. But now we have people who just want to eat and neglect us,” she said.
Gogo also said councillors are to be blamed for all the chaos and lack of service delivery.
“I call on the government to remove councillors who are thugs and get people who are ready to work for the communities,” she said.
