CAPE TOWN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Dan Plato, mayor of South Africa's legislative capital Cape Town, on Monday called on citizens to celebrate the upcoming Freedom Day with compassion and selflessness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Freedom Day, which falls on April 27 each year, is designed to commemorate the first democratic elections held in South Africa on April 27, 1994, when anyone could vote regardless of race.
The national lockdown may have an impact on freedom in the physical sense, but celebrating freedom in today's context means showing awareness and compassion to fellows and respecting each other by adhering to the national lockdown regulations to limit a potential third wave of COVID-19, said Plato in a statement.
Freedom also means having access to vaccine and selflessness, he said, citing an example of late South African President Nelson Mandela and other struggle veterans who sacrifice themselves for democracy of South Africa.
The mayor urged for efforts of all citizens to limit the third wave of infections, including practicing social distancing and good hygiene habits for others' benefit.
As of April 25, South Africa recorded a total of 1,575,471 COVID-19 cases, with 1,501,185 recoveries and 54,148 deaths.