Deputy Minister in The Presidency Kenny Morolong, together with Free State provincial leaders and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, will formally launch the national Milestones of Freedom campaign in the Free State on Thursday at Waaihoek Wesleyan Church in Bloemfontein.
What the launch will involve
The launch begins with a Freedom Walk at 09:00 to honour Charlotte Maxeke, the religious leader and social activist recognised in South African history for her role in the struggle for equality. Students from local tertiary institutions and representatives of civil society organisations are expected to participate in the walk.
After the walk, participants will visit the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church Museum to reflect on the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy. The programme will culminate in the Lighting of the Torch of Freedom ceremony at the church, which the organisers say will honour the women who took part in the 1956 anti-pass campaign that culminated in the Women’s March on 9 August 1956.
“Since the national launch in June 2026, government commenced the rollout of the campaign to provinces on 26 July. Thus far, the campaign has been launched in five provinces, with the Free State, Limpopo and North West remaining.”
Why Waaihoek Wesleyan Church was chosen
Waaihoek Wesleyan Church is identified by organisers as a site of historical significance in South Africa’s liberation history. The site contains a museum component that the campaign will use to prompt local reflection on the trajectory from apartheid-era repression to democratic governance.
Organisers say the launch offers an opportunity to link national commemoration with local heritage. For Bloemfontein residents, the event brings national reflection into a provincial setting and invites participation from students, civic organisations and ordinary citizens.
Anniversaries the campaign highlights
The Milestones of Freedom campaign focuses on several major anniversaries that fall in the current period. The launch materials emphasise the following commemorations:
- 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution
- 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising
- 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March against pass laws
- 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six
| Event | Anniversary |
|---|---|
| Adoption of the Constitution | 30 years |
| 1976 youth uprising | 50 years |
| 1956 Women’s March | 70 years |
| District Six forced removals | 60 years |
What organisers aim to achieve
According to the Deputy Minister’s office, the campaign seeks to promote social cohesion, inspire national pride and encourage reflection on the democratic journey. The national rollout began with a launch in June 2026 and provincial rollouts started on 26 July; organisers report launches have already taken place in five provinces.
The Free State launch is the latest instalment of the campaign’s provincial programme. Officials say it will combine ceremonial elements with heritage education, using the Waaihoek museum to prompt discussion about past injustices and the ongoing work of strengthening democratic institutions and social unity.
Practical information for residents
Residents wishing to attend the launch can join the Freedom Walk, which starts at 09:00 from the designated assembly point at or near Waaihoek Wesleyan Church. The museum visit and the torch-lighting ceremony follow. Participants should expect a public gathering and may face temporary local traffic restrictions around the church precinct during the morning programme.
Organisers encourage schools, tertiary institutions and civil society groups to participate as part of the civic education dimension of the campaign.
The provincial launch aims to situate national commemorations in local memory and to invite Free State communities to reflect on the sacrifices and struggles that shaped contemporary South Africa.
