WINNER: Shackles of Apartheid, Voices of Freedom

"I come from Lavender Hill, a community shaped by the legacy of apartheid. Lavender Hill was one of the many areas where mixed-race people, often referred to as "coloureds" were forcibly relocated during apartheid. This neighborhood, like many others, still bears the scars of that era—high crime rates, poverty, and a lingering sense of despair are the daily realities for many. As someone who grew up in this environment, I’ve seen firsthand how the past continues to cast its shadow over our present. This poem is a reflection of that pain and the enduring struggle for freedom and dignity."

Shackles of Apartheid, Voices of Freedom

A nation torn, yet defiant, under the weight of oppression’s hand,
Where freedom’s fire flickered, but never was it quenched.
In the dark corridors of apartheid, the spirit of a people blazed,
Through the cracks of injustice, Mandela’s light emerged.

Barbed wires marked the boundaries, black and white in stark divide,
Yet within each soul, the same blood coursed, the same dreams thrived.
Shackles could bind the body, but never the mind’s great flight,
In every whisper of defiance, there echoed a future bright.

From the depths of Robben Island, a voice of iron will rose,
A man who knew the chains of injustice, yet preached peace to his foes.
He carried the weight of a broken land, yet lifted it to the light,
With every step toward freedom, he turned darkness into might.

And now the chains are broken, though the scars may still remain,
I speak for the voiceless, who lived through apartheid’s pain.
In every heart, the legacy of struggle and hope does reside,
For in the ashes of apartheid, a united South Africa will arise.

Art by Kimberley Titus: Made on the Cape Flats. Inspired by Lavender Hill resident, Zachary Molete, who owns the clothing brand, 'Culture', which pays homage to the Cape Flats.

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