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

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A | 王星被剃了头，看起来精神不振。 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
。1月7日晚，在泰缅边境失联超过3日的王星获救，以这样的形象出现在公众面前。今年1月5日晚，演员王星的女友嘉嘉通过微博求助，王星看到来自泰国方面的拍摄组讯（项目书），通过试戏后，于1月3日凌晨赴当地拍戏，于当日上午12时许在泰缅边境失联。该微博登上热搜引发关注。

B | 1月7日，泰国当地媒体报道，在缅甸灰产控制区找到王星下落。当晚，中国驻泰国大使馆发文称，王星成功获救，并感谢泰国政府及其他有关各方的努力。1月8日下午，嘉嘉发布微博称，已于当日上午在位于曼谷的泰国官方机构见面。随着事件发酵，有不少同为演员的网友通过网络发声，表示近期和过往遭遇过和王星同样的骗局。记者梳理发现，骗局中，接头人从不出面、没有合同等在普通人看似漏洞百出的套路，在不少演员看来，却是习以为常的“行规”。

C | 当骗子洞悉他们的心理，一步步挤压他们思考的时间，为了谋生，或是一个成名的机会，他们像被遮住了双眼。警惕败给了欲望，一步不慎，如堕深渊。到泰国当“男主”00后演员范虎在看到王星事件登上热搜，感到背脊发凉。他在社交平台上自述，自己遇到了与王星近乎相同的套路，他们收到的组讯是同一份，甚至自己比王星更早几天抵达泰国。2024年12月27日凌晨2点，范虎在兼职演员群看到一则泰国剧组的招募邀约，试戏男主和男配角。试戏片段发出后，国内中间人马新（化名）告知范虎，试戏通过，“正好那边男主要鸽了”，范虎被制片人赏识，很适合顶替男主，待遇是“一天四位数。元旦假期，再翻双倍”。除了范虎，还有三位演员“被选中”，马新还把范虎和其他三人拉进一个小群，让他们彼此照应。剧组拍摄通告。受访者供图此后，范虎添加了自称泰国知名影视公司歌莱美选角团队负责人“歌莱美传播-Belia”，对方告诉范虎，角色在2小时内迅速敲定。这显得仓促而不合理。但范虎并未察觉异样，“演员临时更换是业内正常现象”。很快，Belia开始催促范虎赴泰，并为范虎订下12月28日下午赴泰国的机票以及泰国当地住宿和后期返程机票。

D | 出发前，一位已经抵达泰国的女演员告诉范虎：“他们找了个vip通道给我走，还要来抢我的护照。”范虎心生疑虑。可在第二天小群里讨论时，他们为“抢护照”的行为找到了一个合理的解释——收护照并非强制的，而一些剧组为了登记信息也有收集证件的先例。范虎又打消了疑虑。马新安慰大家“是个小插曲”，告诉范虎正常过来。范虎第二次起疑是在对方安排的接机车辆上。另一位到泰国的演员与范虎几乎同时抵达曼谷，Belia却派了两辆车来接。范虎感到奇怪：“我们前后脚到机场，为什么要分开我们，安排两辆车呢？”下飞机后，他看到小群里消息告诫，快回去，可能是诈骗。

E | 中间人马新称，群内演员的返程机票已经被退了，“不要上对方的车”。12月29日下午，范虎通过国外社交平台发送私信向组讯中提及的泰国知名导演维拉奇·通吉拉求证。2小时后，范虎收到泰国导演的回复：“不是我！小心被骗！”这个回答让范虎心底透凉，彻底确认了这场骗局。“如果组讯里不写这么有名的导演，如果导演不在社交平台接收私信，可能谎言都没有这么容易直接揭穿。”12月30日凌晨，范虎一行四人订了机票，顺利回国。回看泰国之行，范虎认为大家信息共享、共同谋划帮助他在对方的催迫和施压里“保持清醒”，是逃离的关键，“而王星可能只有一个人”，所以没能及时发现问题。事实上，王星要比范虎早3天看到这条组讯。他添加了自称歌莱美公司演员统筹“颜十六”的微信。两天后，嘉嘉协助王星录制了试戏视频。隔日，对方告知王星试戏成功，并为王星买了往返机票、定了酒店，邀请王星前往泰国拍戏。12月30日前后，面对仍不清晰的拍摄信息以及远在泰国的陌生拍摄地点，王星有些犹豫，他以撞档期为由回绝邀约，但“颜十六”态度强硬，回复：“抓紧时间争取，我这边实在换不了人。”交谈间，对方还提到找个会英文的演员不容易。

F | 对方的话术，让人不敢向对方质疑。受访者供图1月3日凌晨，王星抵达泰国后，独自坐上被安排好的接待车时，却发现车内只有一位既不会说英语也不会讲中文的泰国司机。凌晨至中午这段时间里，王星和嘉嘉保持联络，嘉嘉多次要求王星发送位置信息。车辆驶向泰缅边境。“泰缅边境 2025 炸裂开局”，这是王星留下的最后一条朋友圈内容。此朋友圈发布于1月3日上午，定位在泰国夜速县。资料显示，夜速县是泰国边境城市，与缅甸隔河相望，对岸即是缅甸知名的妙瓦底地区。到了12点，嘉嘉再也联系不上王星了。1月6日，中国驻泰国大使馆表示：驻泰国使馆和驻清迈总领馆已收到当事人家属求助，正与泰国有关方面及家属密切沟通，积极提供必要的协助，全力查找当事人下落。1月7日，泰国当地媒体报道，泰国达府警方指挥官证实，已经在缅甸境内找到了失联中国男演员王星。据了解，泰国警方成立了特别调查组追查王星下落。报道还称，根据线报王星已经到缅甸灰产控制区内。当晚8时许，中国驻泰国大使馆官方微信公众号发布公告，“据泰方通报，中国公民王某已于当地时间7日下午成功获救”。深渊与升级的套路“没想到，魔爪伸向了更专业的演员。”这是38岁的许博淳看到王星失联时的第一反应。2023年，经常参与群演兼职的许博淳被骗至缅甸果敢老街，100多天后被救回。2023年6月底，许博淳在一个兼职聊天群中看到有招募演员的信息，工作地点在云南，并开出月薪上万元的优厚条件。联系人告诉许博淳，拍摄计划是“S级项目”，即大投资、大制作的剧组，要求保密。许博淳自2006年开始便以演员的身份活跃于多个综艺节目，对影视行业并不陌生，因此并未对“S级项目需要保密”的说法起疑。随后他便遇到和王星、范虎近乎一致的套路：短时间内通过试戏，对方预购车票、要求自拍确认抵达、专车专送、转移到偏远地区……现在回看，这些细节似乎是一次次紧凑的“服从性测试”，但当时，许博淳无暇思考，陷入局中。7月6日，许博淳抵达西双版纳某度假村后，被接头人以保密为由没收身份证和手机。许博淳回忆，这时的他还没有起疑，因为手机可能会导致泄密，身份证可以用来及时登记个人信息，所以在某些剧组中没收手机身份证等是正常的，而对方并没有恐吓行为，还给许博淳点了外卖。抵达云南后，许博淳被要求不断转移地点。受访者供图直到许博淳被带到一个偏僻的山脚下，他发现周围环境根本不像剧组拍摄地，没有灯光、工作人员和设备，他才开始感到不安。和同行人交流发现，一起来的四人是从不同的兼职群里看到信息，只有许博淳是演员，其他人有健身教练和厨师等。此时，十多个穿迷彩服、腰间带刀的中年人从附近丛林里蹿出来，围住许博淳等人。在对方的威逼利诱下，他们走过好几段山路，接着摩托车转移、翻越铁丝网，又爬上山。许博淳回忆，这个有铁丝网的地方可能是中缅边境。下山后，许博淳等人被分散到不同的车上，而看管他们的人身上的武器从刀子变成了步枪。许博淳被带到一个农家院子，他看到院子里有雇佣兵，他们拿着长枪和电棒。院子里关着很多中国人。许博淳被关在两个大通铺的房间里，房间地上和床上都有血渍，味道难闻，有的人戴着脚铐和手铐躺在地上。许博淳回忆，刚进院子的人会被剃头、扒光衣服，还有可能被无端暴打。他看到王星获救后的图片，心有感触。“我是在7月底被选走的，被卖到了臭名昭著的果敢老街的一间宾馆里。”在那里，许博淳被限制行动，被要求每天“工作”，内容涉及电诈，“如果不听话或者没开单，就有可能被那边人打。”为了榨取许博淳的价值，他被要求向亲友报平安，收到信息的亲友就有可能成为下一个电诈受害者。在缅甸的许博淳被要求向亲友报平安。

G | 受访者供图一次，许博淳趁报平安的机会，偷偷给朋友发了一条让他得以救命的关键信息：“果敢老街红莲宾馆 7 楼救我”，然后立刻删除。中间人拍下的果敢老街的红莲宾馆。许博淳的家人接到消息立即在国内报警。最终，家人通过缅甸当地的蛇头和华人商会将许博淳救回。

H | “整个救援过程花费了大概100多万元，其中给到诈骗公司的现金是62万元，其他费用包括找关系、蛇头费等。”在某宾馆中，许博淳和母亲视频通话。受访者供图为了救回许博淳，通过中间人在某宾馆内进行交易。

I | 受访者供图许博淳相关案件的立案告知书。受访者供图许博淳回国后，被拘留。受访者供图回顾网上报道王星失联的过程，许博淳感觉，仅仅过了一年多，诈骗手段已经升级。让人冒冷汗的是那份形式逼真的组讯。组讯通告一般由剧组开机前放出，用作寻找剧情主线人物的角色演员，是一份项目简介，也是招聘单，演员能通过组讯报名试戏，业内人士能通过组讯通告判断项目大致的规模。演员们收到的组讯中的一页，这让一些人相信这部戏是一个“大制作”。

J | 受访者供图范虎认为，泰国“剧组”的这份组讯通告高度专业，海报排版精良，信息详实，包含项目内容、故事梗概、角色小传、选角团队等，这才让他放松警惕，也骗过了马新。回国后，范虎把这条泰国“剧组”的组讯发给业内相熟的经纪人传阅，业内人士认为：“甚至比一般的短剧剧组（的组讯）制作得都好。看上去至少有七位数的投资。”而一些沟通的细节，也让范虎有种亲临片场的恍惚感。比如，剧组有更高层的角色“唱白脸”。当范虎向Belia提出要见副导演，对方发来截图，显示“副导演”的严厉训斥：“这点事都做不好，赶紧给他们安排一个商务车，把他们接过来，不要犯这种错误了。”“副导演”一出场便态度恶劣，劈头施压，严厉指责他们严重失职，耽误“剧组”工时费，并表示现在自己在见“资方”，今天演员们“想见他们都没空”。而Belia则“唱红脸”，细心推进，用“时间”和“片酬”打乱演员心理节奏：“定妆定服装都要时间，进组一天的片酬也是算的。”范虎回忆“副导演”的施压态度和言语里的专业用语，确实非常符合“副导演”的角色。他对此连声感叹：“如果没有事先发现不对，很容易被他吓到。

K | ”而Belia这个角色擅长使用“救场”“临时鸽找不到演员”来进行道德捆绑，又很符合大家对这个工种标签化的印象。

L | 回看与对方“剧组”的对接过程，范虎感叹骗子团伙“链条上每个人都很进入角色”。渴望拍片的演员们王星、范虎等人遇到的情况并非个案。1月7日，中国广播电视社会组织联合会演员委员会发布公告称，近期，委员会关注到有多名演员被疑似诈骗组织以拍摄影视剧等工作为由骗至境外，人身和财产安全受到极大损害。在欺诈演员的“剧组”组讯通告单上，人物小传显示，“剧组”要求年轻的主角，招聘年龄在20-22岁间。在这批被骗赴泰国的4人里，范虎年纪最小，目前在上大三。作为表演系学生，他高三一毕业就开始寻求工作机会，寒暑假很少回家，全国各地进组。他拍过一些短剧，也拍过广告、宣传片。“多进组、多跑戏才能混眼熟，别人有机会才能想到你，才能进更多通告群。

M | ”范虎解释，通告群一般由一些选角导演、经纪、副导演建立，新入行的演员们可以通过校友人脉、靠谱群头进群，有些群需要自掏腰包。通告群也分等级，一些演员在跑戏时，被一些群头，经纪，副导演看中，才会进入更高层次的通告群。

N | 在范虎眼里，群里信息终归“僧多粥少”：“这一行永远不缺年轻样貌好的。一条通告发出去，报名的人挤破脑袋。就连短剧，主角年龄门槛也越来越高。”而演员看到的这份虚假的组讯中，包含主角、横屏、好题材、知名导演、大影视公司、中外合拍、大制作……这些都是他们渴望的元素。范虎眼里，这个骗局可以说是为了这一类渴望被看见的演员们量身定制的。让人更加担忧的是，让小演员们主动相信骗局的，恰恰是来自行业内权力失衡的压迫感。

o | 在骗局里，“剧组”工作人员捏准演员们不愿“添麻烦”的软肋，不断用职业道德来控制他们，也会搬出剧组“上位者”进行施压。范虎告诉记者，底层演员们很“爱惜自己的羽毛”，为人处世谨小慎微。

p | “圈子非常小，有一些做得不好的，惹到一些人，可能会被‘挂’，比如在各个微信群里指出谁谁谁耍大牌、会爽约。

q | 这样就更接不到戏了。还有可能被人身攻击。”嘉嘉猜测，王星或许是不想在业内失信，同时也希望凭借自己不错的英文口语，抓住这次海外长期合作的机会。范虎则觉得，这可能就是王星在面对联系人指责他爽约时，王星不敢反抗和质疑的原因之一。也有网友认为，只需稍作调查和沟通，不难识破其中的骗术。许博淳解释，在某些剧组里，跳过中间人直接跟大导演建立联系是大忌。对小演员们来说，行业生态不好，有戏拍就已知足。泰国“剧组”为了真实，给经纪转了定金，再由经纪把报酬转给演员。在前期最重要的沟通环节，小演员们毫无话语权，薪资、拍摄周期等诸多细节直接“被告知”，从一开始，范虎等演员就没有与他们直接接触、平等沟通的权力。

r | 范虎回忆，平时在国内拍戏，也可能抢下通告、试戏成功就满心欢喜，直接拉走开机。以往这样的流程走惯了，演员不敢多问，更别提争保障。没有公司，资源要靠自己抢；接戏、签约、进组整个流程并不规范。小演员们常处于被动。而这些本就不规范的细节，反而让骗局中的演员盲信自己遇到了大制作。行业内一些不规范操作，反而成了话术。受访者供图王星失联后，他的亲友向泰国文华律师事务所求助。律所工作人员告诉记者，近年来，主动向泰国文华律师事务所求助寻找失联人员的案件数量较多。高峰期内一周会接到11起求助。此次演员失联事件属于一种新型诈骗方式。“现在电诈集团、园区非常擅长包装自己，使得大家放松警惕”。然而，骗局并非没有漏洞。