The CRL Rights Commission joins the African continent in celebrating Africa month under the theme "African renewal, advancement and development".
Africa month, which falls on the month of May, is a period to remind ourselves of the unity African people fought for. This resulted in the attainment of freedom and the respect of for basic human rights which colonial masters had deprived them for many decades.
The CRL Rights Commission will be joining the rest of African people in celebrating and capture the rich history of Africa through dialogues, debates, sports, arts, culture, religion and language.
This day is the day in which African people and States commemorate the creation of the Organisation of the African Union in 1963. The continental organisation was later renamed African Union in July 2002. It is the day that symbolises Africa's unity, commitment to peace, democracy and social cohesion.
Today South Africa is faced with the recurring problem of xenophobia attacks targeted at fellow black people from South Africa's neighbouring countries, the question to be raised is whether these attacks are to be termed xenophobic or afrophobic as it is mostly black African people that are victimised.
On this day, South Africa and the rest of the African continent should be reminded of the achievements and also the challenges that continue unabated. Among those challenges, there are still huge pockets of poverty, underdevelopment, and suppression of African culture, religion and languages. Africans had to adopt foreign cultural and religious believes at the expense of their own rich heritage. African people became beggars and slaves in their own land and were forced to speak in the language of their masters.
The CRL Rights Commission encourages all Africans to embrace their history, cultural, religious and linguistic heritage, in order to preserve the diminishing heritage.
For any other enquiries regarding this statement please contact:
Ms Botle Letsebe
Marketing and Communications Officer
Cell: 083 233 1538
Tel: 011 537 7625
CRL Rights Commission celebrates Africa Month 2012
