造梦者

South Africa freedom day memorial gathering reveals its pursuit of dignity and inclusive governance in post apartheid era_我的网站

A |     Editor's Note: 
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
    

    The aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: VCG
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
         The author takes a photo with Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor and ANC regional chairperson. Photo: Courtesy of He Yue
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it. 
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. 
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.

         At a Freedom Day commemoration, participants use song and rhythm to express political memory and labor solidarity. Photo: Courtesy of He YueA moment of presence
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。    　　卫星总装车间内，天津辰星技术股份有限公司旗下阿童木品牌研制的多自由度刚性具身智能机械臂，通过了最后一轮出厂测试，即将搭乘云遥宇航设计的商业卫星启程。不久后，这款机器人将实现太空作业。8月6日，在天津辰星技术股份有限公司，工作人员测试一台工业并联机器人。组图均由新华社记者 赵子硕 摄　　辰星机器人所在的天津经济技术开发区(以下简称“天津经开区”)，是我国首批国家级经开区之一。从1984年在盐碱荒滩上起步，到如今成为外资云集、新质生产力涌动的产业高地，一场围绕产业链筑基、强链、育新的深刻变革正在这里发生。　　国家管网集团天津综合试验基地等项目顺利开工，生物医药等新兴产业集群起势，外资企业加码创新深耕中国……天津经开区立足传统优势产业夯实发展底盘，聚焦前沿新兴赛道壮大增量动能，一批战略性重大项目及内外资创新项目加速落地。今年上半年，工业战略性新兴产业增加值占比达40.4%。　　“我们紧扣‘新质、优质、高质’，着力推动主导产业转型升级，蓄力培育壮大新兴产业和未来产业，鼓励支持企业扎根发展、增资扩产，持续塑造高质量发展新动能。”天津经济技术开发区党委书记、管委会主任洪世聪说。　　优势产业更具科技感　　经过深度提纯后的氙气，是一种重要的电子级特种气体，可广泛应用于集成电路、航空航天、医疗装备等产业。但由于工艺难度较大，堪称“沙里淘金”。　　如何高精度提炼氙气，曾是制约行业发展的一大技术难题。“我们能做到提取‘5个9’纯度的高纯氙气，通过精制工序深度提纯，纯度达99.999%。”天津旺海科技发展有限公司总经理冯国辉自豪地告诉记者。　　公司厂区的中控室内，大屏幕上实时跳动着氙气、氦气提纯装置的各项参数。企业已建成氪氙粗精制、氦氖精制、自动化充装等完整产线，年产充装能力达10万瓶，可生产高纯氦、氙、氖、氪等电子级稀有气体。

B | 　　“在天津经开区管委会帮助下，我们新建了氦气纯化液化技改项目，填补京津冀地区规模化液氦量产的空白。”冯国辉说，这一项目投产后将有效提升区域高端稀有气体的自主保障能力。　　从空气里“筛”出高端稀有气体，是天津经开区传统化工产业向高附加值赛道升级的生动缩影。不远处，另一家企业将目光投向“液体”，从另一条路径验证着精细化工的广阔前景。　　天津市长芦化工新材料有限公司的展厅里，一台服务器整机浸没在澄澈的全氟聚醚液体中，指示灯在液面下清晰闪烁，科技感十足。　　“AI算力设备的功耗持续提升，浸没式液冷是新的技术方向，全氟聚醚流体正是液冷应用的核心介质。”天津长芦化工新材料有限公司党支部书记、董事长杨继林介绍，公司自主研发的氢氟醚、全氟聚醚两大系列产品无毒、绝缘、无腐蚀性，是绿色环保型清洗剂和冷却液的理想原料，广泛用于芯片清洗、算力设备散热等领域。

C | 　　今年7月，工信部公布了精细化工关键产品创新任务揭榜挂帅入围揭榜单位名单，长芦化工入围“氟醚润滑油”产品名单。

D | 此外，相关产品还顺利通过国际头部企业的验证。　　石化产业是天津经开区主导优势产业之一，产业集群规模已突破千亿元。作为主要承载地的南港工业区，一条条管廊纵横交错，一座座银塔罐区连片成群，气势恢宏。近年来，南港工业区绿色石化产业持续提质升级，已覆盖传统精细化工11大类中8大类，累计落地65个优质项目，总投资达653.75亿元。　　“我们的打法是‘聚链成群’，系统推动精细化工高质量发展，形成高端材料产业集群和细分门类齐全的精细化工项目矩阵。”洪世聪说，将持续推动这一优势产业向未来赛道跃升，激活产业发展新动能。这是5月23日拍摄的天津经济技术开发区“于响”片区一景。　　解锁发展新空间　　立足传统优势产业链，如何解锁产业发展新空间？长期深耕磁悬浮技术的天津飞旋科技股份有限公司也有自己的答案。　　前不久，由飞旋科技承担的“高速高负载磁悬浮轴承关键技术”项目取得阶段性成果，“1.6MW(兆瓦)高效高负载磁悬浮轴承”样机完成组装，核心技术指标达到国际领先水平。

E | 　　“在工业领域，磁悬浮轴承被誉为提升工业能效的‘核心利器’，具有‘无接触、零摩擦、免润滑’的技术优势。”天津飞旋科技股份有限公司董事长洪申平介绍，2024年，飞旋科技联合清华大学、武汉大学等7所高校组建产学研攻关团队，经过近一年半的攻关，完成样机的组装测试。　　未来，这一技术将主要应用于空压机、制冷压缩机等流体机械，从容应对毫秒级电压波动，为AI算力设施提供可靠的制冷方案。　　天津大学机械工程学院教授谢辉认为，天津经开区的传统产业转型没有另起炉灶，而是沿着产业链向价值链高端攀升，以技术创新打通新旧产业的衔接通道，为区域制造业高质量发展注入持久动力。　　而在生物医药等领域，天津经开区瞄准赛道，不断发力。“相关产业基地在天津经开区拔节生长，配套企业已超40家，这些企业各有看家本领，引领着行业细分赛道，还能实现就近协同。”天津经开区医药健康局相关负责人说，随着凯莱英、法尔玛等项目的实施，完备的产业配套也为更多企业落户发展提供了广阔空间。　　“如果说新兴产业是当下的增长引擎，那么未来产业则是面向明天的战略储备。”洪世聪说，天津经开区已获批天津市首批未来产业先导区，在具身智能、脑机接口、量子科技等前沿赛道加速布局。今年上半年，一批未来产业的标志性项目在经开区落地生根。　　天津经开区实施《天津经开区未来产业培育发展行动计划》，聚焦“优势产业未来化”和“未来技术产业化”，深耕生物制造、通用人工智能等领域，搭建未来产业体系。

F | “我们以先导区建设为牵引，推动脑机接口、量子科技等前沿领域从‘技术破冰’走向‘产业成林’，为区域高质量发展赢得先机。”洪世聪说。

G | 　　深耕本土谋新机　　经济学中，如果把产业链看成一条“微笑曲线”，附加值更多体现在两端，即研发设计和销售。全球价值链分工中，大部分利润集中在研发与服务两端。　　天津经开区正在吸引越来越多的外企全球研发总部加速向中国布局。透视外资在华布局的迁移轨迹，恰恰沿着这条“微笑”曲线向两端延伸。　　机械臂挥舞，AGV自动导引车穿梭——走进位于滨海新区的奥的斯泰达基地，生产现场十分忙碌。这条自动化率达75%的生产线上，近20个工序均实现自动化作业。

H | 　　“这是我们刚建成的智能化控制柜生产线，针对的就是老旧小区电梯更新、既有建筑焕新的市场需求。

I | ”在生产车间，奥的斯泰达基地制造总监闫铭铭指着一排移动的工装小车介绍，每辆小车根据接收到的信息，能生产不同型号的控制柜，实现柔性生产。　　“中国市场是奥的斯全球布局的关键，我们将不断加码研发投入，与中国同频共振。”奥的斯中国区总裁罗小莉说，依托2023年落户天津经开区的北方研发中心，奥的斯发布了面向适老化需求的智能电梯及人机协同巡检具身智能体等创新成果。

J | 今年上半年，企业老旧小区电梯更新等现代化更新业务订单同比增长50%。

K | 　　在生物医药领域，世界500强丹纳赫旗下飞诺美中国研发中心加码布局主攻核酸医药相关色谱柱及填料研发，可为区内凯莱英等企业提供配套支持。　　如今，包括奥的斯北方研发中心、PPG全球涂料创新研究院在内的38家外资研发中心落户经开区。

L | 外资企业正在用行动表明，深度融入本土创新生态正成为在华布局的新逻辑。　　外资企业与中国市场保持同频共振，也体现在一个个不断加码投资的新项目中。今年上半年，跨国龙头持续增资扩产，诺和诺德追加投资2亿元提升组装生产能力，SEW投资20亿元建设第五工厂，三星电机投资20亿元建设AI服务器专用MLCC新产线，一汽-大众实现燃油车与插电混动车型柔性共线生产……工作人员在天津经济技术开发区一汽-大众华北基地总装车间装配车辆。　　“这些项目都是动辄几十亿级别的真金白银投入，充分说明外资企业对中国市场的信心坚定不移。”洪世聪说，我们以制度创新与精准服务，为更多外资企业从投资兴业到深度共生铺就坚实跑道。

M | 　　从“空气淘金”的技术跃迁，到“合成生物造药”的产业落地，再到外资企业“扎根共生”的主动布局，天津经开区的发展图谱，正是中国经济高质量发展、开辟增长新空间的生动缩影。　　记者：邵香云 杨文 赵子硕　　来源：新华每日电讯。

Current article:http://www.mengruanpianchengji.cyou/list_bcfb/sibpd.ppt

Published on:06:10:20