Day celebration, Winburg
21 March 2007
Programme Director
MECs present
The Mayor of Masilonyana
The Executive mayor of Lejweleputswa
Respective Mayors and Councillors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Today, 47 years ago an important and historical occasion took place in our
country. The Sharpeville Massacre as it later became known became one of the
milestones in our struggle for freedom. On that day the most fundamental right,
the right to life was taken away when sixty nine people were killed in cold
blood and a total of 180 were wounded for having dared to reclaim their own
dignity.
The events of that day would change the course of the liberation struggle
forever. The martyrs of that era may have not been aware that their action and
protest would change the history of our country for the better. We commemorate
and celebrate today the courageous stand taken by people across the country
against the unjust pass laws that curtailed, oppressed and diminished the
dignity and rights of our people.
Those who took part in the protests of 1960 knew that even if they perish at
the hands of apartheid bullets, their sacrifice will not be in vain and that
the culmination of events on that day would go down in history as one of the
foundations that would lead to vigorous and strategic initiatives to bring down
the apartheid system. They were confident that their blood would nourish the
tree that will bear the fruits of freedom.
We owe it to the brave heroes and heroines of the anti-pass law protest to
ensure that our newfound freedom and democracy prospers and succeeds in
bringing about change and development in the lives of our people. Our
government, acting together with our people must ensure that our people's right
to equality, to human dignity, to life, to freedom and security.
We have to work hard to ensure the freedom of religion, belief and opinion,
freedom of expression, of association and of movement must never again be
trampled upon and denied.
Our constitution, which is applauded as one of the best in the continent and
the world, guarantees and protects the rights of each and every citizen.
2007 marks the twelfth year of our democracy; during this period we have as
a nation achieved the freedom that our people fought and struggled for, for
decades. Although our country and people have been emancipated, much still has
to be done in order to ensure the moral regeneration and economic development
of our nation. The promotion of the culture of human rights is but one of the
aspects we as government have identified as a key area in pursuit of the
improvement of the lives of all South Africans.
A day such as this one, should make us remember with sober reflection and
yet joyously swelling hearts the ultimate sacrifice paid by our brothers and
sisters in the protracted struggle of our freedom. It is in honour of these
martyrs that we have to encourage respect for human life, dignity and human
rights.
We must, on this day remember the significance of human rights in our lives.
This day allows us to celebrate our progress in outlawing racism and all other
forms of discrimination, especially violence against women, the abuse of the
disabled and children. I want to urge all of you to help us as government to
curb these and other forms of crime in order to make human rights real for all
South Africans
Our focus during Human Rights Day this year should be on children's rights.
We have heard in the past few months of terrible atrocities that have been
committed against innocent children. Incidents like these indicate to us that
society today is not kind to our children and denies them the carefree
childhood that every child is entitled to. It becomes our business as
government and communities to monitor whether our children are enjoying the
rights, which our constitution entitles them to.
I therefore urge every adult to teach our children about their rights and to
encourage them to speak out whenever these rights are violated.
Let us be responsible and restore the morality that forms the basis of our
different cultures. Let us present our children with the opportunity of growing
up in a stable and peaceful environment. I implore church leaders, teachers and
the community to speak out against issues that cause the degeneration of our
society. Let each one of us learn about our constitutional rights and insist
that they be respected in all our interactions. In conclusion I would like to
plead with every citizen to work hard at building a unified South Africa that
will be able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of
nations.
We take this opportunity Programme Director, to call on all the people of
the Free State to join our partnership of building a better life for all and of
creating safer communities. We need to work with our police, the Human Rights
Commission, our councillors, the church and all structures of civil society to
reclaim our freedom from criminals, racists and sexist elements within our
communities.
The most important instrument against any form of violation is knowledge. We
have to intensify our democracy and citizenship education so that our people
are empowered with knowledge. It is only when everybody is aware about their
human rights that they can act in their defence and promotion. Our people have
to be the principal defendants and watch dogs of their own freedom.
Let us all celebrate our human rights in an environment of human
development, peace, equality and justice.
I thank you
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Free State Provincial Government
21 March 2007
