South Africa to commemorate the 2020 Human Rights Day in Colesberg, Northern Cape
As March marks Human Rights Month in the country, the Government through Department of Justice and Correctional Services and the Department of Arts and Culture commemorate the Month under the theme: “The Year of unity, socio-economic renewal and nation building.”
This years’ theme among others recognises that the conditions for uniting South Africans lie also in broadening and deepening access to socio-economic services such as health, land, education, water, electricity, housing, security, and employment.
The 2020 Human Rights Day Commemoration will take place on Saturday, 21 March 2020 at the Colesberg Sports Complex, Umsombomvu Local Municipality in the Northern Cape Province. On this day and beyond, citizens of the country are galvanised to respect, protect, promote Constitutional values of human dignity; and to uphold the principles of non-racialism and non-sexism.
Government views Human Rights Day as a day of reflection by all people on progress made in entrenching human rights and recommit to doing everything possible to deepen these rights for all. As a representative body of the people, government remains unwavering in its Constitutional task of making laws and exercising oversight that ensures practical and concrete realisation of individual and collective humanity rights. Government is enjoined by the Constitution to advance and to protect, without fear or favour, people's democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom in the execution of its mandate.
The 1960s were characterised by systematic defiance and protest against apartheid and racism across the country. On March 21, 1960, the community of Sharpeville and Langa townships, like their fellow compatriots across the country, embarked on a protest march to march protest against pass laws. The apartheid police shot and killed 69 of the protesters at Sharpeville, many of them shot while fleeing. Many other people were killed in other parts of the country. The tragedy came to be known as the Sharpeville Massacre and it exposed the apartheid government’s deliberate violation of human rights to the world.
In commemorating the Human Rights Day 2020, we appreciate the strides made in building a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa, but believe more must be done by all South Africans, united in our diversity, within and outside of government, to deepen our constitutionalism and consolidate our democracy.
“These painful events from our past are a constant reminder that many paid the ultimate price for us to live in a society governed by human rights and dignity for all. Since 1994, the democratic government sought to use these painful chapters of our past to unify South Africans,” stated the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
“During this month and beyond, let us honour the heroes and heroines who suffered and died for justice and freedom in Sharpeville and Langa in 1960. Their selfless and courageous struggle for freedom and an end to pervasive human right abuses of the apartheid government immensely contributed to the attainment of freedom in 1994”, further stated Minister Mthethwa.
Since the advent of the new democratic dispensation, the country has made significant progress in advancing fundamental human rights and stabilizing racial tensions. However, much of South Africa’s challenges on human rights and inequality are still reflected in racial, class and gender fault-lines. High unemployment remains a serious challenge, not only in terms of economic development, but also raises security issues. The majority of perpetrators of crimes such as rape, murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery etc. is presumed to be the youth, and this is linked to lack of economic opportunities such as employment and low skills levels.
Let us be reminded that Human Rights Day is commemorated to reinforce commitment to the Bill of Rights as enshrined in our Constitution.
These rights include:
- Equality – everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
- Human dignity – everyone has inherent dignity and have their dignity respected and protected.
- Freedom of movement and residence – everyone has a right to freedom of movement and to reside anywhere in the country.
- Language and culture – everyone has the right to use the language and to participate in the cultural life of their choice.
- Life - everyone has the right to life.
All citizens have a responsibility to ensure that our human rights record and history are preserved and strengthened for future generations. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights": in perhaps the most resonant and beautiful words of any international agreement, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights promises to all, economic, social, political, cultural and civil rights that underpin a life free from want and fear. These human rights are not country-specific. They are not a reward for good behaviour, or particular to a certain era or social group. They are the inalienable entitlements of all people, at all times and everywhere, 365 days a year.
Government will host various activities throughout the Human Rights Month to remind all South African to continue working together to uphold the culture of human rights. Human Rights come with responsibilities and we all have the responsibility to build a society that respects the rule of law.
Below are some of the 2020 Human Rights Month build-up activities taking place across the country:
- The Department of Arts and Culture will host Social Cohesion Community Conversation on Human Rights, Social Cohesion and Nation building on Thursday, 12 March 2020 at Marquard, in the Free State Province at 09h00.
- On Sunday, 15 March 2020, the Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) will host Invuselelo at Kuyasa Community Hall in Colesberg, Northern Cape at 09h00.
- The Ditsong Museum will host a public lecture on Human Rights taking place at GaMohle (Kruger Museum), Pretoria, Gauteng at 10h00.
- The Umsombomvu Local Municipality in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture will host the Colesberg 4 Memorial Lecture on the 19th of March 2020 in Colesberg, Northern Cape, at 18h00.
- The Department of Arts and Culture will also host a lecture on the legacy of Baba Credo Mutwa on the 19th of March 2020 at the Sol Plaatjie University, Kimberley in Northern Cape at 15h00.
- The Amazwi (formerly known as National English Language Museum) will also on the 19th of March host an exhibition and discussion on the Violation of Human Rights. The event will take place at Amazwi, in Makhanda, Eastern Cape at 09h00.
- South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host a provincial human rights month dialogue on Thursday, 19 March 2020 at Ben Marchais hall, Rustenburg in the North West Province at 10h00.
- On Friday, 20 March 2020, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will host the launch of 100th Sexual Offences Court at Evander, Mpumalanga (9h00).
- The Premier of Gauteng, Mr. David Makhura will lead the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Sharpeville Massacre (where 69 peaceful protesters were killed by the racist police force). The commemoration will take place at the George Thabe Cricket Pitch, Sharpeville in Vereeniging at 10h00.
- The University of Western Cape in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture will host a seminar on Indigenous Languages at the University of Western Cape, in Cape Town at 10h00
- The Freedom Park Museum will on the 23rd of March 2020 host a Day of Reflection: Africa’s Road to Democracy (focus of human rights and Battle of Cuito Cuanavale) at the Freedom Park Museum, in Pretoria.
Government urges all citizens of the country to participate in all planned commemorations in the efforts to promote the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, strengthen human solidarity and tolerance, and to build a cohesive nation.
Media enquiries: Please contact:
Zimasa Velaphi
Cell: 072 172 8925
Asanda Magaqa
Cell: 072 327 6807
