Thousands of people from all the five districts of the province recently flocked to the Rabali stadium in Vhembe district to celebrate Human Rights Day. This day has come about as a result of the 1960 protests that came to be known as Sharpeville massacre. What transpired on the day was a culmination of a protracted violation of rights and the continuous application of apartheid laws that were against the human rights. These apartheid laws limited the rights that a human being has from conception and are not supposed to be asked for from the apartheid authorities. Rights such as the right to be respected; the right to work; the right to privacy; and other rights that do not have to be endorsed by an external body of few individuals.
What actually transpired on 21 March 1960 was that as people were responding to a call made by Robert Sobukwe that they should leave their passes at home and demand to be arrested, police responded by randomly opening fire to everyone including young and old. The shooting left 69 people dead and 200 injured.
This year marks the 50th year anniversary since the massacre and a relevant question to be asked is ‘How far have we gone to actualise these rights’? This was the question premier Cassel Mathale asked the gathering at Rabali stadium during the celebration of the day. Premier was accompanied by MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Pitsi Moloto, MEC George Phadagi of Public Works and MEC Joyce Mashamba of Sport, Art and Culture who also directed the proceedings of the day. Other guests included the chairperson of the national house of traditional leaders, Khosi Kutama, Khosi Thoni Mphephu Ramabulana, the mayor of Greater Tzaneen OJ Mushwana and the executive mayor of Vhembe district, Phillimon Mdaka.
In his address, Premier Mathale stressed that celebration of this day must be done within the context of current conditions within which South Africans find themselves in. He said as the government builds RDP houses, those houses must show that those who will be receiving them are respected and that will restore their pride.
“We need to show that we respect our people by building them decent houses. In that way we’ll be demonstrating our genuine understanding of what human right entails,” he said.
Young people are also expected to understand the significance of the day in terms of milestones achieved in creating opportunities aimed at improving their lives. ‘Those learners at high schools must celebrate happily knowing when they complete their matric, bursaries will be there to enable them to further their studies,” Mathale emphasised. He appealed to civil servants to do their part to give meaning to the celebrations of the day. There is still much left before we can confidently stand up and claim to have arrived at a stage where we can celebrate Human Rights Day without looking back.
Issued by: Limpopo Provincial Government
26 March 2010
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government (http://www.limpopo.gov.za/home_page.asp)
