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South Africa freedom day memorial gathering reveals its pursuit of dignity and inclusive governance in post apartheid era_我的网站

A |     本文来源：时代周报 作者：何珊珊          AI行业的下半场，拼的早已不是内容生成能力，而是“读懂真实世界”的能力。         在2026世界人工智能大会（WAIC）上，这一判断已经成为全行业共识，持续数年的通用大模型参数军备赛彻底退潮，“世界模型”一跃成为核心赛道之一。整个AI产业正迎来从“数字内容创作”到“物理世界理解与交互”的跃迁。    Editor's Note: 
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
    

    The aerial view of Johannesburg, South Africa Photo: VCG
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
         The author takes a photo with Babalwa Lobishe, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor and ANC regional chairperson. Photo: Courtesy of He Yue
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it. 
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice. 
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.

         At a Freedom Day commemoration, participants use song and rhythm to express political memory and labor solidarity. Photo: Courtesy of He YueA moment of presence
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。         “今年是世界模型元年，”7月19日，昆仑万维董事长兼CEO方汉在论坛现场如此判断。

B | 该公司同步发布Matrix-Game3.5交互式世界模型、Murekav9.5音乐大模型等重磅迭代产品，宣告公司技术路线从虚拟世界内容生产，正式向物理世界具身智能场景延伸。

C |          方汉对时代周报记者表示，视频、音乐、游戏大模型仍处在明确的性能红利期，市场天花板远未触达；而面对技术迭代的焦虑，答案从来不是抗拒工具，就像马车夫学会开汽车，先拥抱变化的人能先吃到时代红利。         昆仑万维董事长兼CEO方汉现场演讲          异构数据将打破成本壁垒          就AI产业的迭代脉络，方汉认为，过去两年行业重心集中在文字、图像、视频等静态内容生成，而2026年的核心命题变为“理解真实物理世界、完成闭环交互”，世界模型正是实现这一跨越的底层技术底座。         而要打造能适配机器人、智能制造、开放游戏的通用世界模型，海量高质量训练数据是绕不开的硬门槛。         方汉在采访中给出明确行业阈值：模型想要完成有效收敛，至少需要千万小时级训练数据，长期优化则要冲击亿小时规模。

D | 传统动捕采集模式成本极高，一套专业采集设备采购价十余万元，单小时采集成本可达千元，想要凑齐千万小时样本，投入将达数十亿量级，绝大多数企业难以承担。         “异构数据（手机、普通摄像头采集的日常操作视频）彻底打破成本壁垒，采集硬件普及、场景覆盖更广，单小时采集成本降至个位数，多样性与真实环境复杂度远超专业动捕素材。”他表示，异构数据将成为世界模型预训练核心燃料，高精度动捕数据仅用于后期微调强化学习。         方汉透露，昆仑万维发布的黎曼1.0具身模型，基于海量异构数据训练，在叠衣服等复杂家居任务上性能直接提升8个百分点。         从数据产能竞争来看，他认为中国厂商手握天然优势，国内拥有全球最完整工业门类，家政、物流、制造、医疗等真实场景供给充足，同时数据采集硬件产业链全部本土化，成本控制能力全球领先，未来千万小时级训练数据产能将集中在中国企业手中。         对于当下“大批企业转向垂直应用，基础模型投入降温”的行业论调，方汉提出截然不同的判断。         他认为，纯应用层项目存在巨大风险，通用大模型会持续吸收各类细分行业能力，大量垂直工具会被底层模型直接内化；企业核心竞争力必须扎根基础模型研发，若布局应用业务，也要保证自有数据、业务流程无法被通用模型复刻。因此，他建议AI创业者摒弃“拿着锤子找钉子”的思路，深耕行业真实痛点，从需求倒推所需模型能力，而非依靠现有技术强行适配赛道。         影视音、游戏等文娱赛道模型仍在红利期          多模态AIGC商业化落地成效，成为本届WAIC热议话题之一。方汉判断，文本大模型增长节奏逐步放缓，但视频、音乐、游戏三大赛道仍处在明确性能红利期，商业化天花板远未触及，付费转化意愿显著高于其他AI品类。         音乐赛道上，昆仑万维全新升级的Murekav9.5打出“最无AI味”标签，解决过往AI编曲堆砌、情感空洞痛点，生成过程实时回看修正旋律、编曲逻辑，指令精准度提升超10%，同时打通图文、视频一键配乐链路，支持MV全流程协同创作，形成从灵感构思到完整音视频产出的闭环工具。

E |          AI在影视短剧赛道已跑出规模化落地样本。         爱奇艺高级副总裁杨海涛在同一场合分享最新运营数据：平台每日上线超3000部AI短剧、上千条AI漫画内容，AI工具将影视前期故事板、后期特效制作效率提升50%以上，单部网络电影可节约三周制作周期，暑期还将批量上线AI参与创作的院线向网络影片。         短剧爆发并非偶然，短视频长期重塑大众注意力习惯，用户习惯于十几秒出现一次剧情反转，而AI大幅压低短剧拍摄、剪辑成本，各类细分题材得以批量供给，长尾需求被充分满足。         现场文娱从业者带来真实创作体验。中国电影家协会副主席、国家一级演员黄晓明现场分享实测感受，他使用Mureka复刻杨宗纬曲风生成抒情歌曲，歌词情绪贴合指示词；同时黄晓明惊叹AI视觉迭代速度，近期观看AI成片，人脸面部毛孔、微表情细节已难区分虚实。         演员王珞丹则分享AI创作幕后，称为达到理想镜头反复调试提示词至凌晨。她认为AI是高效创作工具，但故事内核、审美判断永远由人类创作者主导。

F | 青年导演崔也表示，AI能高效完成大群演、极端天气等实拍难实现的镜头，大幅降低成本。         谈及AI演戏或机器人是否替代从业者的大众焦虑，方汉对时代周报记者比喻道，汽车诞生时马车夫恐慌，枪械普及后弓箭手担忧，但最先掌握新技术的群体一定会先吃到时代红利。影视导演、剪辑、音乐人无需畏惧AI，自身独有的审美、叙事、情绪感知能力是模型无法复刻的优势。主动拥抱工具、实现人机协同的创作者，融合AI才能形成差异化竞争力。         当下，中国凭借完整的工业体系、丰富的场景资源与成熟的硬件供应链，有望在这一轮技术竞赛中占据数据产能的先发优势。

G | 而技术迭代的本质始终是工具升级，而非对人的替代，当创作门槛持续降低，更多普通人的创意得以释放，整个AIGC产业将迎来更广阔的增长空间。

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