The government is calling for greater involvement by ordinary South Africans in the running of the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday launched the Milestones of Freedom Campaign at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and called for active citizen participation, saying it is crucial to sustaining democratic governance.
Ramaphosa warned that the affairs of the country cannot be left to government alone. He said South Africa’s democracy may not fulfil its intended purpose without the active involvement of ordinary citizens.
“Freedom is not a monument we visit once a year. It is a responsibility we carry every day.
“So today, we issue a call to activism, a call to service, and a call to participate,” he said.
“This is a call to all of us to volunteer at a school, mentor a young person, clean a street, or grow a business.
“It is a call to serve on a school governing body, report corruption, and prevent violence against women,” said Ramaphosa.
Among the key milestones highlighted in the campaign are the 1956 Women’s March against pass laws and the 1976 student uprising against the imposition of Afrikaans as a compulsory medium of instruction.
The President singled out the right to vote as one of the most important democratic freedoms and urged citizens to exercise it consistently.
“It is a call to vote in every election and to hold accountable those who are elected to public office. This is a call to register to vote this weekend, on 20 and 21 June,” he said.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has declared 20 and 21 June 2026 as Voter Registration Weekend, with political parties expected to intensify efforts to encourage voter registration ahead of future elections.