By Mpumzi Mshweshwe
South Africa today honoured the memories of those who were killed and injured by the apartheid police 65 years ago by promoting and cherishing their own rights. The peaceful protests against the apartheid government and its pass laws were met with violence that resulted in the deaths of 69 people at Sharpeville in 1960. It was only after South Africa’s first democratic elections that this historic date was recognized and marked as Human Rights Day.
Speaking at the Derick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega in the Eastern Cape, Deputy President, Paul Mashatile outlined and reminded South Africans about the significance of this day. He said that Human Rights Day is a day when the Sharpeville Massacre is remembered, and it is also a day when our rights as the people of a democratic country are reiterated.
Mashatile paid also tribute to those who died in the Langa Massacre in Kariega on this day on March 21 1985 who were shot by police as they commemorated the events of Sharpeville. At least 20 people who fought against injustice and the oppression they suffered because of the apartheid government, were killed in Langa.
“This year’s commemoration theme is ‘Deepening a Culture of Social Justice and Human Rights’, is not simply a slogan. It is a commitment to ensure justice and equitable outcomes for marginalized people, requiring renewed commitment from all sectors of society,” Mashatile said. The Deputy President strongly stressed the protection of people’s rights in the democratic South Africa. The independent bodies that contribute to assisting the government ensure that people not only understand their rights but have them met as well.
The Constitutional Court along with the South African Human Rights Commission, which both celebrate 30 years this year, were two independent bodies that were recognized and considered vital in the protection and promotion of human rights in the country.
“Our government has also taken responsibility to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights in the Bill of Rights. We have established an environment that strives to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. Through the adoption of our Constitution, constitutional obligations have been created for the state, distinguishing us from the divisive government of the Apartheid era,” Mashatile said.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has laid the groundwork for the government to establish a society that is just for all. However, Mashatile recognized that there is still significant work that remains in order to fully implement the TRC’s recommendations particularly in addressing systematic inequalities and ensuring that all victims received appropriate redress.
The unemployment rate in South Africa stands at 31.9% which is an indication of how some people still live in poverty and will inevitably depend on the government for them to gain access to their protected rights such as a clean environment, housing, health care, food, water and social security. The higher the rate of unemployment the greater strain is put onto the government and the taxpayers.
Mashatile also acknowledged the progress the government had made towards ensuring that South Africans had continued access to critical services such as electricity, water, and housing, among others. “Our government has made substantial progress towards achieving these rights. Between 2011 and 2022, access to water rose to 88.5%, while access to improved sanitation reached 80.7%,” he said.
In commemorating the Sharpeville Massacre different political parties in South Africa have emphasized the rights that every South African has and all have made attempts to assure their followers and the public at large that they will do their utmost best to promote and protect people’s rights.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) deputy president, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, said the party aims to hold the government accountable for better service delivery and that the UDM is committed to fighting against poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) deputy president, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, said that BOSA used this year’s Human Rights Day to highlight and defend a critical socio-economic right enriched in the Constitution – the right to sufficient water.
“Many municipalities have failed to maintain water infrastructure, address leaks, or ensure equitable access, leading to widespread water-shedding,” Hlazo-Webster said. Because of this, provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Gauteng have been affected by poor service delivery, with reports of hospitals, schools and towns being without adequate water.
Mashatile closed off by saying “Let us embrace our individual responsibility to shape our nation’s future by exercising our democratic rights and working together to build a South Africa where social justice and human rights are not merely ideals, but a lived reality for all”. – @NewsSA