GAUTENG Guardian, rather belatedly, welcomes you to the month of April, one of the most significant months in our nation’s history.

The month ushers in Freedom Day.

Celebrated on the 27th, it is an event commemorating South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections of 1994.

The day is important because it marks the end of white minority and the establishment of a new democratic government led by Nelson Mandela.

In line with his significant contribution to the dispensation of democracy, we feature progress of an empowerment project that was ever close to his heart-a hospital that will cater for local children and their counterparts from the Southern African region.

A Trust tasked with raising funds for the completion of the hospital has raised significant amounts of money for its completion.

Elsewhere in our pages, the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is eager to make the most of the troubles of President Jacob Zuma to mount a serious challenge in the forthcoming municipal elections in Gauteng Province and beyond.

The “Outsourcing Must Fall”, a campaign-cum-fracas, a series of strikes that has seen workers at some universities embark on strikes is ongoing.

On the sporting front, teams from the capital city – Pretoria, have met mixed fortunes in the Absa Premiership campaign. One is fighting to the crown and another is battling relegation. We feature two teams fighting at the two ends of the log table.

With the senior men’s team struggling to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, the onus is on Banyana Banyana to redeem the country’s tattered football image.

As usual, my fellow columnists shoot from the hip on the prevailing religious and sporting issues!