As South Africa commemorates Freedom Day this Sunday, Free SA urges the public to reflect not only on the progress made since 1994—but also on the freedoms we are now at risk of losing.
While this day honours our hard-won democracy, civil liberties, and human rights, the reality in 2025 is sobering: an increasingly authoritarian approach by the ANC-led government is systematically attempting to errode the freedoms of everyday South Africans.
From excessive regulation and job-killing policies, to censorship and centralised control, the democratic promise of 1994 is being undone—step by step.
“Freedom Day should be a celebration of the people’s voice,” said Reuben Coetzer, spokesperson for Free SA. “Instead, it’s become a day to remind government of its duty to protect, not suppress, the rights and aspirations of its citizens.”
Freedoms in the Firing Line
- Economic Freedom: Unlawful minimum wage hikes and state overreach into the private sector continue to stifle job creation. Millions remain unemployed while entrepreneurs and small businesses buckle under bureaucracy and burdensome regulation.
- Freedom of Choice: The recent CBD and hemp food ban, implemented without proper public consultation, is only one example of a government bypassing democratic processes to impose top-down control over consumer rights and personal choice.
- Racial Classification in Land Ownership: The state’s move to reintroduce racial classification into land transactions revives the darkest injustices of our past. Free SA stands firmly against this unconstitutional policy, which undermines the core value non-racialism.
- Freedom to Protect: The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) is steadily attempting to expand its powers in a bid to bring the private security industry under tighter government control. This threatens not only one of South Africa’s largest sources of employment, but also the freedom of citizens to secure their own safety when the state has failed to do so.
We Must Defend Our Freedoms—Before They Disappear
Free SA calls on all South Africans—civil society, businesses, media, and individuals—to recommit to the values of transparency, accountability, and constitutional rights. We must not allow Freedom Day to become a memorial of liberties past, but a rallying cry for liberty present and future.
“Democracy is not self-sustaining,” said Coetzer. “It must be defended constantly. Free SA stands ready to challenge unlawful actions, expose undemocratic processes, and fight for a government that serves—not controls—its people.”
Join Our Campaigns to Defend Your Freedom
From stopping job-killing wage laws to demanding accountability in cabinet reform, our campaigns give South Africans a voice in shaping a freer, more just society. Join us at: www.freesa.org.za/campaigns
