South African Freedom Charter

The South African Freedom Charter was generated in the midst of apartheid (1955). It consisted of wishes for the rights of all people generated by a survey of the people of South Africa. It provided the base for what eventually became the Constitution of South Africa in 1994. The monument is located in Soweto.

We visited the monument to the process that resulted in the Charter. The dome shape building covers a pie-shaped display of the major expectations established in the Charter. The top of the dome contains an X-shaped open through which sunlight falls on the written expectations. In the photograph, the X falls on the expectations related to education for all. The X symbolizes the X of a vote.

The Doors Of Learning And Of Culture Shall Be Opened!Edit

The government shall discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our cultural life;
All the cultural treasures of mankind shall be open to all, by free exchange of books, ideas and contact with other lands;
The aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love their people and their culture, to honour human brotherhood, liberty and peace;
Education shall be free, compulsory, universal and equal for all children;
Higher education and technical training shall be opened to all by means of state allowances and scholarships awarded on the basis of merit;
Adult illiteracy shall be ended by a mass state education plan;
Teachers shall have all the rights of other citizens;
The colour bar in cultural life, in sport and in education shall be abolished.