“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." These powerful words were spoken by civil rights movement leader Frederick Douglass who called on people around the world to stand up for their rights.

These words have inspired a generation of leaders around the world to speak truth to power and to demand change and freedom. During the Soweto uprising in 1976, those students intimately understood that progress can only happens when they act, and they will have to lead from the front for that to happen.

On 29 May 2024, the voices of the people reigned supreme once more and their collective choice has paved the way for our transition from the 6th to 7th administration. In an era of global voter apathy, it is heartening that 16 291 516 South Africans voted in the year that we commemorate 30 years of freedom.

There was a time when the story of Africa was told by voices outside the continent who looked at our continent through a tainted lens. However, this has changed and Africans are now proudly sharing our own stories of development and triumph.

Every parent naturally wants the best for their child when it comes to education.  This extends to the school their children attend or tertiary education later in life.  Education develops children to be confident and independent. It encourages them to think, make important decisions and operate independently.

The South African economy is today nearly triple the size it was when we embarked on our democratic journey. It is the result of 30 years of hard work and tough decisions taken amidst difficult challenges.

This month will be one of the busiest for our country. We will participate in our nation’s seventh democratic elections on 29 May 2024, commemorate Africa Day on 25 May and mark the 28th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution.

South Africa’s distinctive skills, talents and resources have paved the way for the emergence of various local businesses with unique offerings. These home-grown products and services add to our Proudly South African heritage.

Every year we showcase our locally manufactured products at the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and expo. In March this year, the 12th edition of the Buy Local summit and expo was hosted under the theme “localisation: an inclusive approach for all sectors of society to contribute to economic growth and job creation”.

When a baby is born parents anticipate that their child will live a long happy life, but this is not always the case. Sometimes there are conditions that are not evident at birth but are discovered as the child grows up.

When President Cyril Ramaphosa took the oath of office on Saturday 25 May 2019, he committed to address a number of challenges that the people of this country continue to face. He was upfront about his plan to put economic growth and job creation as the apex priority of his administration.

As we reflect over our 30 Years of Freedom, one of the many cherished freedoms we have is the freedom to speak without fear. This freedom of expression includes the freedom of the press and other media as well as the freedom to receive or impart information or ideas.