Opposition parties unhappy on Freedom Day

By Lelethu Mquqo
27 April 2011

The Freedom Front Plus says relationships in South Africa are today more polarised than at any time since the first democratic elections in 1994.

FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder attributes this to leaders like Julius Malema and Jimmy Manyi on the one hand, and white racists on the other hand, making radical statements.

Mulder is also unhappy that Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille only honoured heroes of the struggle during a Freedom Day gathering near in Mamelodi, Pretoria.

He says this gives the impression that one group defeated another.

Meanwhile, in its Freedom Day message, the South African Communist Party says unless something radical is done now about what it describes as “the apartheid economy”, government’s achievements will be greatly undermined by the system of capitalism.

The SACP says while millions continue to "swim in poverty and hunger”, those who have access to power are enriching themselves at the expense of the masses.

The party says corruption is theft from the poor and directly undermines democracy.