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Chapter 3 - Freedom Park as a Place of Memory: Symbolic Reparations, Indigenous African Knowledge Systems and Reconciliation

Muxe Nkondo
By
Jane Mufamadi
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Summary

Introduction

Freedom Park is a presidential legacy project, which was established as a place to acknowledge the contributions made by men, women and children who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and humanity; and to foster reconciliation, social cohesion and nation-building in the country. The foundation of the institution lies on the reconciliation process of our nation and the quest to advance the rights entrenched in the constitution. As the National Legacy Project, the origins of the site lie in President Mandela's (1999) Freedom Day speech when he said,

It is therefore a weakness on our part, that we have yet to create a monument to remember them and all South Africans who sacrificed so that we should be free …. The day should not be far off, when we shall have a people's shrine, a Freedom Park where we shall honour with all the dignity they deserve those who endured pain so we should experience the joy of freedom.

The project was spearheaded by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), to create and foster a national consciousness based on the common legacy that binds the people of South Africa. It is on this basis that Freedom Park is underpinned by the articulation and preservation of an overall, multifaceted heritage that represents—in a visible, experiential and interactive manner—our developing national consciousness and identity, thus substantiating our culture and deepening our identity as South Africans. These principles qualify Freedom Park as South Africa's most ambitious heritage destination which challenges visitors to reflect on our past, improve our present and build on our future as a united nation. As former President Mbeki (2002) put it:

Freedom Park must speak to the past, the present and future of our nation. Indeed it must speak the broadest meaning of the term freedom, from the terrible vagaries of nature, freedom from socio-economic backwardness, freedom from prejudice and oppression, ensuring that the body, the mind and the soul are freed to explore and achieve their highest potential.

Thus, the objective of establishing Freedom Park as a national symbol was to

  • • honour those who paid the ultimate price for freedom and humanity

  • • celebrate the attainment of democracy

  • • celebrate the triumph of the human spirit

  • • contribute to the building of an inclusive non-racial, non-sexist society

Type
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Social Memory as a Force for Social and Economic Transformation , pp. 21 - 35
Publisher: University of South Africa
Print publication year: 2021

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