South Africans celebrated 20 years of democracy yesterday with song, prayer and praise for those who guided their country into a more peaceful, tolerant era.

The focus of the Freedom Day commemorations was in Pretoria at the Union Buildings, the century-old government offices.

President Jacob Zuma and dignitaries including foreign diplomats gathered to reflect on the long struggle against apartheid and efforts to build a better country.

The mood was festive at the ceremony, where balloons were on display and many people waved South African flags.

Women ululated and the crowd sang the national anthem.

There was a military gun salute and a flyover by air force planes.

Messages of congratulations for the 20th anniversary of democracy came from South Africa’a many friends around the world.

President Zuma said South Africa had a good story to tell, referring to its stable electoral system, its constitutional commitment to human rights and advancements in healthcare, welfare grants and water and electricity in the past 20 years.

Close to three million houses had been built since 1994, women play a far more prominent role in public life and crime has declined, though it remains an issue of “serious concern.”

“We must not deny or downplay these achievements, regardless of our political differences during elections,” said Mr Zuma.

South Africa’s Communist Party noted the sacrifices of freedom fighters, saying: “The SACP salutes the masses of our people, the heroes and heroines, sung and unsung who dedicated their lives to our struggle for freedom.

“As we celebrate the 20 years of our democracy we remember all those who lost their lives in the course of the liberation struggle.

“In the last 20 years, the ANC-led government has restored the dignity of our people from the shackles of colonial and apartheid oppression.”

But the celebrations were not universal.

Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was happy Nelson Mandela was dead, so he did not have to see what the current leaders were doing to the country.

Mr Tutu has already made it clear he will not be voting ANC in next month’s elections.