Tell your story

The “Tell your Story” campaign of Government forms part of the overall 20 Years of Freedom campaign.  Through the “Tell your Story” campaign all South Africans, young and old, are provided with an opportunity to reflect on what it was like to live in apartheid South Africa, to consider the changes that have taken place, the challenges that remain, and a way forward for the country.

South Africans can:

• Share their experiences of apartheid and democratic South Africa with citizens from different social strata
• Create awareness about what it was like growing up in apartheid South Africa, what role they might have played in ensuring democratic change and their experience of South Africa today.
• Educate youth and young South Africans about the history of our country.
• Be introduced and participate actively in the 20 Years of Freedom and Democracy campaign
• Get dialogues and conversations started in local communities and to begin the process of building social cohesion and a national identity.

News Stories

• President wishes Jewish community a happy New Year
• South Africans celebrate Heritage Day
• Northern Cape Premier promotes Tell your Story Campaign
• SA on track in achieving a common heritage
• Constitution Hill to celebrate World Tourism Day
• Telling stories of freedom
• SA, Jamaica to host poetry session
• Final rest for Nat Nakasa
• Youth urged to learn more about SA’s struggle history
• South Africa's democracy: the heritage we will bequeath to generations of the future
• National Parks Week launched
• Tell your story, urges Deputy Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams
• Arts and Culture commits R3b for new libraries
• Embrace SA's rich heritage
• Visit SA national parks for free
• Books a crucial part of SA heritage
• It's time to holiday in your own land
• Heritage Month to honour struggle heroes
• Opportune time to tell our stories of freedom
• Tell your story of growing up in SA
• Tell your story this Heritage Month

Send us your story, telling your experiences:

• share on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sanewsgovza
• share on Twitter @tellyourstoryZA

Listen to the interview with GCIS Acting CEO Phumla Williams asking you to tell your story for 20 Years of Freedom[mp3].

A selection of stories

LeadSA

LeadSA shares stories of a few South Africans to document our country’s journey to 20 years of democracy.

East Coast Radio

East Coast Radio gave several on-air staff at ECR just one minute to tell their stories celebrating 20 years of democracy in SA.

Mxit

People shared their stories on Mxit (SA Government).

Yolanda Moroa: South African's are free. There are no slaves. Read more ...

Letlape Salaminah: My good story is that after 20 years of democracy we have got the chance to reflect on the distance we have covered since those dreadfully unhappy days. Read more ...

Franscinah: On 27 of April 1994 South Africans of all races voted for a democratic and non racial government. Read more ...

Thabang Mokoena: My family stayed in a shack for more than 10 years.  Read more ...

Issar Saar: In 1994 there was a change in my province because Nelson Mandela was the first president in South Africa. Read more ...

Dube Nhlakanipho: South Africa has changed. Before 1994 we now live a better life because of our heroes.  Read more ...

Sharon Hlungwani: My story is lovely. I was born in this country and I know more about this country. Read more ...

Mayibuye Ndlovu: SA is a better place now than before 1994.  Read more ...

GCIS

Government Communications asked its staff to share their stories.

Reginah Pooe: I was working as a cleaner for white people in Pretoria when my cousin first told me about a job in government.  Read more ...

Sam Mtombeni: In 1986, I started working here in government communication after having worked in Consol Glass and Coke as a piece worker. Read more ...

Joy Khakane: I heard about apartheid from the stories that my family told and I also learnt about it in school. Read more ...

Related links:

SA History Online contains numerous biographies of people who contributed to making South Africa a successful democracy.