Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hardie Viviers and Sesotho by Cllr David Masoeu.
Mangaung’s Freedom Square, located in Ward 6 of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM), holds historical significance as a gathering place for anti-apartheid freedom fighters, symbolizing resilience and unity.
The community of Freedom Square, self-dubbed the “Government of Freedom Square,” established its administrative hub, the “White House,” mirroring the spirit of governance within their community. Despite facing immense challenges, including residing in low-cost housing and emerging from a history of squatting on the land, their determination remained unwavering.
In the early 1990s, access to basic necessities such as water and sanitation was severely limited within Freedom Square. However, through their perseverance, the community secured R31 million in funding during the early 2000s under the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), aimed at infrastructure upgrades and low-income housing initiatives.
Regrettably, in 2024, Freedom Square finds itself transformed into a sewage swamp, a result of government negligence in maintaining critical infrastructure. Despite their ongoing efforts and appeals, the community’s voices have fallen on deaf ears within the ANC-led municipality. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.
The residents of Freedom Square, reminiscent of their resolve during the struggle for freedom, now grapple with disillusionment, as promises of a brighter future remain unfulfilled by the current administration.
However, there is hope. The Democratic Alliance (DA) stands as a beacon of change, offering a proven track record of delivering freedom, fairness, and opportunities, even to the most marginalized communities. We will continue to pressure the municipality to prioritise the community of Freedom Square and highlight the crisis in the council.
We urge the residents of Freedom Square not to relinquish hope and to cast their votes for a new government in the upcoming 2024 elections, one that prioritises the needs of the people and commits to restoring dignity and prosperity to communities like Freedom Square.
Join the movement for change; vote for the DA and seize the opportunity to shape a future where neglect and disillusionment become relics of the past. Together, let us rebuild Freedom Square and reclaim the promise of a better tomorrow.