Message from Gary Pienaar, Chief Commissioner 

Best wishes to all our members on this Freedom Day.  Today is a time for collective reflection and celebration of our country’s first democratic elections in 1994, and the sacrifices made by many to uphold the values of freedom, equality, and justice.

Freedom Day is also a reminder that true freedom goes beyond legal rights and requires an individual commitment to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals.  It is also a day to think about the civil liberties that we so often take for granted – the freedom of expression, freedom of thought, and the freedom to choose.

For instance, our ability to freely choose to be involved in the global Scouting Movement.  Did you know that there are only five countries in the world that currently do not have Scouting – China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Andorra?  Throughout history there has also been occasions where Scouting has been banned in several countries, primarily for political reasons and concerns around the movement’s influence on society.  Highlighting that Scouting’s core values of freedom, democracy, responsibility and global citizenship are incompatible with the ideologies of totalitarian regimes.

So, on this Freedom Day let us remember that ‘with our personal freedom comes great responsibility’.  It is a reminder of the importance of active citizenship, being mindful of the needs of others, and the importance of building a more just and equitable society for all South Africans.  The values contained in our Scout Promise and Law, provide us with the confidence and guidance to do just that, and as ‘Messengers of Peace’ we know that Scouts all over the world are helping to make that difference!