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SA 'not truly free'
26/04/2008 17:05 - (SA)
Molweni - South Africa was not yet truly free, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille told KwaZulu-Natal Freedom Day celebration in Molweni, outside Durban, on Saturday.
"Are we truly free in South Africa today?" she asked. "I am afraid that the answer to this question must be no... but many people may disagree.
"... Elections are not enough to make you free. We only have to look at Zimbabwe to see that."
Hundreds gathered to hear Zille speak at the Molweni Community Hall in a valley 90km outside Durban. At least four busloads of DA supporters arrived wearing yellow T-shirts bearing Zille's picture.
Dressed in a red suit, Zille said the majority of South Africa's people had a long way to go to enjoy the most basic freedoms.
"When 53 people are murdered every day we cannot say that the right to life is upheld. When 144 women and children are raped every single day, we cannot say that the right to be free from violence is protected, and when 15 million people are without access to basic sanitation, we cannot say that the right to dignity is enjoyed by all," she said.
"When 10 million people live in informal settlements, we cannot say that the right of access top adequate housing has been fulfilled and when half-a-million HIV-positive people require access to antiretroviral drugs, but do not receive them, we cannot say that there is access to basic health care."
Zille, who told Sapa that she loved KwaZulu-Natal as if it were her home, handed out DA T-shirts to police officers.
- SAPA
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