The national celebration is being held at the AJ Swanepoel stadium in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.

Some residents of Ermelo have accused government of failing to deliver basic services.

As one enters the Wesselton township, there is garbage scattered across the area.

Some residents claim that illegal dumping started after the Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s failure to collect refuse.

Residents are also concerned about impassable roads and sewer spillages.

Lack of clean drinking water is another major problem.

They are now calling for intervention from the national government and the President.

“Ramaphosa is coming, like you say, for Freedom Day. And my question on that will be, what freedom? I mean, freedom from what? The oppression is still there in many more different ways than it used to be. I mean, if you look at the streets, if you look at the sewage, if you look at the power, the electricity, actually I can’t say if you look at it because it’s non-existent.”

“I think it’s not worth it to celebrate the Freedom Day while people are still living in the shacks. Each and every time, there is water that is flowing here and sewage there, but it we are called to go and celebrate the Freedom Day.”

--SABC--