Today is a special holiday set apart to
celebrate the freedom South Africans find themselves living in the
post-apartheid South Africa. I can’t remember right now if 27 April was the day
that ALL South Africans participated in a ‘free and fair’ vote to elect the new
president or if this marks the day of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as
President of the ‘New South Africa’.
I do know that this day has been a real
party day for many years now with celebration rallies being held all over the
country – and abroad! Embassies and Consulates all over the world will be
wining and dining South Africans tonight at grand receptions.
When I think of
the money wasted on overly elaborate festivities, my heart breaks for the
hundreds of thousands who still live in dilapidated and grossly inadequate
housing, the many to whom election promises have never been realised. Even now
every news broadcast is filled with stories of people raising their voices and
begging for change in the most basic of things. Its hard to believe that there
are still schools which lack basic resources (and I’m not talking about the
lack of toilet facilities in some cases!) Driving past squatter camps and
seeing the conditions in which many must live is still heartbreaking.
I dream
of a better life for all South Africans and pray for leaders who will truly
bring their people into a greater freedom. And ofcourse, today I pray for the
real freedom of all South Africans, the freedom from the bondage of sin and
death and the fullness of life in Christ.
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