KWA-THEMA, South Africa (AP) — Sporting a lively array of colorful outfits, about 3,500 South Africans attended celebrations on Saturday in Kwa-Thema township, east of Johannesburg, on Freedom Day, the public holiday marking the 25th anniversary of the end of apartheid.
Many wore the bright yellow, green and black colors of the African National Congress, the ruling party of the late Nelson Mandela that played a crucial role in the struggle that ended the brutal system of racial discrimination. Other people wore traditional outfits.
Many waved the South African flag at the festivities which featured speeches focusing on the progress made in the past quarter-century and the many challenges that still must be tackled, including unemployment and inequality.
