Johannesburg - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe says the return of the original copy of the Freedom Charter to South Africa marks another important milestone in the history of the country's liberation.
Motlanthe and Minister of Arts Lulu Xingwana accepted the signed original copy of the Freedom Charter at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia on Friday.
The Freedom Charter, regarded as one of the most important documents in the history of South Africa, nearly went on auction in London but was rescued following intervention by the Liliesleaf Trust and the South African government.
Liliesleaf Farm is also the place where Nelson Mandela and 155 other political activists were arrested when police raided the farm on 11 July 1963.
Motlanthe said the 1955 gathering of various political formations in Kliptown to draft the Freedom Charter paved a way for South Africa is today saying it was important that such a history be protected for future generations.
"The arrival of this original document bears testimony to the contemporary relevance of the values enshrined in it 55 years ago," said Motlanthe, adding that the return of the document marked a special day for the country.
Restrictions placed by the apartheid government on the movement of political activists meant that there was never a collective signing ceremony of the document. Monty Naicker of the SA Indian Congress signed the Freedom Charter in February 1960 while Chief Albert Luthuli of the ANC only signed it in November of that year.
Motlanthe recalled how the charter was circulated underground so it could be signed all leaders of the liberation movements. "Most of the signed copies were seized by the police and some survived as evidence in the Treason Trial," he said.
The original copy of the Freedom Charter was kept by Leon Levy who was treasurer and then president of the South African Council of Trade Unions.
Also present to witness the ceremony were Rivonia trialist Dennis Goldberg and Advocate George Bizoz who defended some of the 156 accused in the infamous trial that lasted for four years.
Goldberg said the Freedom Charter was probably the only document that guided the formation of South Africa's constitution which is today regarded as among the best in the world.
