Hayibo.com - Freedom Day marks 14 years of lounge suite repayments

Freedom Day marks 14 years of lounge suite repayments

JOHANNESBURG. Factory worker Primrose Mvela celebrated fourteen years of democracy in post-apartheid South Africa yesterday by making her 168th repayment to a leading furniture dealership. According to Mvela democracy has brought the gift of lounge suits. "Now I have the right to be in as much debt as white people," she told reporters.

According the Mvela, lounge suites were beyond the reach of most black South Africans during the grim decades of the 1970s and 80s.

But the historic April 27 elections in 1994, and the dawning of a democratic society, meant that she and millions like her were finally given the opportunity to furnish their homes as tastelessly as white people.

"I have voted in three democratic elections," said a proud Mvela, "and I have made 168 payments on my Capri Carnival patent leather lounge suite with matching porcelain whippets."

She says the furniture had marked "the dawn of a new era, both politically and in terms of interior décor".

"Some of my friends say I am wasting my newfound freedom by tying myself into open-ended payment structures," said Mvela. "But I tell them that freedom means having the right to burden myself with massive debt if I choose to."

She said that the lounge suite had been acquired for R1,400 in 1994, and that as of yesterday she had repaid R154,000.

"My goal is to be half way with my payments by next year's election," she said.

Asked if she was excited by the prospect of a Jacob Zuma presidency, she said that she was "keeping an open mind".

However she conceded that she was slowly leaning towards Zuma.

"He looks fantastic in a leopard skin, and my one recliner is covered in leopard-print linoleum.

"If he ever came to visit he would match my furniture beautifully, and that's really important to me, that my guests feel comfortable in their surroundings."