Date: 21/03/2007

Source: Free State Provincial Government

Title: Marshoff: Human Rights Day

Address by Premier Beatrice Marshoff during the Human Rights Day celebration, Winburg

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