article_snippet.sent: (CNN)April 27 is celebrated as Freedom Day in South Africa, commemorating South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 election which saw Nelson Mandela elected as president.
article_snippet.sent: The day is widely seen as marking the start of a free South Africa after the fall of apartheid, a system of racial segregation implemented by the white-minority government in South Africa for decades.
article_snippet.sent: Using the #FreedomDay hashtag, people across South Africa and beyond took to Twitter to celebrate This year's event, express people across the country views and send out people across the country wishes -- including the white-minority government in South Africa.
article_snippet.sent: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the people of South Africa and sent out a message of hope.
article_snippet.sent: Many South Africans used Twitter to denounce the recent violence... ...
article_snippet.sent: whilst others remembered iconic South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.
article_snippet.sent: Freedom Day didn't go unnoticed by Google, who've changed the doodle to honor the day.
article_snippet.sent: Here's a selection of some of other #FreedomDay tweets.
highlights_snippet.sent: South Africa marks 21 years since the first free election .
  