Date: 21/03/2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: P Molefe: Human Rights Day
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATIONS, Mafikeng, 21 March 2004
Programme Director
Colleagues in the Executive Council
The Executive Mayor of the Mafikeng Local Municipality, Ms Nomvula Hlangwana
The Executive Mayor of the Central District Council, Mr Mbuyiselo Mohulatsi
Kgosi Jeff Montshiaoa
Councillors
Comrades and Friends.
On this day, 43 years ago, the forces of oppression unleashed one of their most brutal acts, aimed at suppressing what was meant to a peaceful protest against unjust pass laws in Sharpville.
This act of raw aggression on innocent was carried out in defence of system that sought to deny majority of our people basic human rights.
As we commemorate this day, almost ten years into our democracy, we are reminded of the heroic sacrifices of those who lost their lives on that day in 1961.
On this day, we bow our heads in honour of all those who fought bitter battles to bring human rights to all. We salute them and take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to cause for which they paid the supreme sacrifice.
In particular, we of the North West take this opportunity to bow our heads in found remembrance of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives during the last days of the Bophuthatswana Bantustan administration.
We remember their act of bravery and courage in the face of an aggressor hell-bent on defending minority privilege. Our thoughts and prayers go to members of families who lost their loved ones during this sad moment in our history.
As we are gathered here today, we wish to say that; their death was not in vain, their cause was a just one and we shall forever be indebted to them for sacrifices they made.
More importantly, on this day we are reminded of the progress we have made in ensuring that we do not betray the cause for which those who died on this day in Sharpville and elsewhere in the country.
We are reminded of the road we have travelled since our liberation in 1994 to build and entrench a culture of human rights in our country.
More specifically, we are reminded that our people no longer suffer humiliation of having to carry passes wherever they go. They no longer suffer the inconvenience of having to be confined to certain parts in the land of their forefathers.
Today our people are no longer victims of the tot system, where they would be remunerated by cheap alcohol for their hard labour in farms.
Gone are the days when our people would be rewarded by bicycles after working for many years in mines.
Our people are no longer victims of forced removals.
Many of them now have access to decent health care, education and shelter. Their dignity has now been restored. They are now proud citizens who enjoy human rights and dignity in the land of their birth.
On this day we are reminded that access to amenities in our country is no longer regulated according to colour.
We are reminded that all South Africans now have equal access to opportunities, which were deliberately denied to them. We are reminded that we now have a progressive Constitution that guarantees the rights of all South Africans.
Today all our children have equal access to opportunities to reach for their dreams. Workers now have access to rights such as the right to strike, denied to them by our past rulers.
Many of our people now have access social grants to which they were denied for many years.
Our people now enjoy freedom of speech, movement and association.
The freedom of the media is part of our daily lives.
Police brutality, detention without trail, banishments and an unfair justice system are now things of the past.
We are now a free nation, a united nation, a nation that enjoys universal human rights.
As a result of our work over the past ten years, to build a South African society based on human rights, we have been accepted back into the world community of nations.
Our experience in moving our country away from a situation of a complete disregard for human rights to that of equality for all continues to inspire many across the world.
The "South Africa miracle" is proving to be a valuable source of inspiration to all those striving for a better world, where everyone enjoys equality and human rights.
On this day we are therefore justified to say that; as a nation we have come a long way. We are justified to say that our efforts to build a human rights culture are yielded positive results.
We are now a nation that is truly free.
In the words of a young grade 11 learner, who took part in the schools essay competition whose winners will be honoured today; " ... the democracy that our grandfathers such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Chris Hani fought for, is a great asset that the youth of South Africa cherish most today."
This learner writes further that; "We therefore honestly promise to defend this democracy in the air, on the high seas and on the land. We shall never allow it to go away from us again."
Guided by these wise words from a young learner who clearly is proud to be a South African we, must today make a pledge to continue defending human rights in our country.
We must work hard to ensure that; never again does anyone in our country suffer the humiliation and indignity of having their human rights taken away from them.
Let us act together to defend and support the work of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission in building and strengthening a human rights culture in our country.
In the North West, which is a largely rural province, we must defend the progress we have made in bringing human rights to our people in the farms.
We must support the of the Anti-legal evictions forum in defending the rights of labour tenants.
Furthermore, we must respond appropriately to the challenge of creating an environment conducive for free and fair elections on 14th April.
We must do all these things as part of ongoing efforts to defend the gains of our liberation and build a human rights culture.
I thank you!!!
Issued by Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
21 March 2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: P Molefe: Human Rights Day
SPEECH BY NORTH WEST PREMIER, DR POPO SIMON MOLEFE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATIONS, Mafikeng, 21 March 2004
Programme Director
Colleagues in the Executive Council
The Executive Mayor of the Mafikeng Local Municipality, Ms Nomvula Hlangwana
The Executive Mayor of the Central District Council, Mr Mbuyiselo Mohulatsi
Kgosi Jeff Montshiaoa
Councillors
Comrades and Friends.
On this day, 43 years ago, the forces of oppression unleashed one of their most brutal acts, aimed at suppressing what was meant to a peaceful protest against unjust pass laws in Sharpville.
This act of raw aggression on innocent was carried out in defence of system that sought to deny majority of our people basic human rights.
As we commemorate this day, almost ten years into our democracy, we are reminded of the heroic sacrifices of those who lost their lives on that day in 1961.
On this day, we bow our heads in honour of all those who fought bitter battles to bring human rights to all. We salute them and take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to cause for which they paid the supreme sacrifice.
In particular, we of the North West take this opportunity to bow our heads in found remembrance of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives during the last days of the Bophuthatswana Bantustan administration.
We remember their act of bravery and courage in the face of an aggressor hell-bent on defending minority privilege. Our thoughts and prayers go to members of families who lost their loved ones during this sad moment in our history.
As we are gathered here today, we wish to say that; their death was not in vain, their cause was a just one and we shall forever be indebted to them for sacrifices they made.
More importantly, on this day we are reminded of the progress we have made in ensuring that we do not betray the cause for which those who died on this day in Sharpville and elsewhere in the country.
We are reminded of the road we have travelled since our liberation in 1994 to build and entrench a culture of human rights in our country.
More specifically, we are reminded that our people no longer suffer humiliation of having to carry passes wherever they go. They no longer suffer the inconvenience of having to be confined to certain parts in the land of their forefathers.
Today our people are no longer victims of the tot system, where they would be remunerated by cheap alcohol for their hard labour in farms.
Gone are the days when our people would be rewarded by bicycles after working for many years in mines.
Our people are no longer victims of forced removals.
Many of them now have access to decent health care, education and shelter. Their dignity has now been restored. They are now proud citizens who enjoy human rights and dignity in the land of their birth.
On this day we are reminded that access to amenities in our country is no longer regulated according to colour.
We are reminded that all South Africans now have equal access to opportunities, which were deliberately denied to them. We are reminded that we now have a progressive Constitution that guarantees the rights of all South Africans.
Today all our children have equal access to opportunities to reach for their dreams. Workers now have access to rights such as the right to strike, denied to them by our past rulers.
Many of our people now have access social grants to which they were denied for many years.
Our people now enjoy freedom of speech, movement and association.
The freedom of the media is part of our daily lives.
Police brutality, detention without trail, banishments and an unfair justice system are now things of the past.
We are now a free nation, a united nation, a nation that enjoys universal human rights.
As a result of our work over the past ten years, to build a South African society based on human rights, we have been accepted back into the world community of nations.
Our experience in moving our country away from a situation of a complete disregard for human rights to that of equality for all continues to inspire many across the world.
The "South Africa miracle" is proving to be a valuable source of inspiration to all those striving for a better world, where everyone enjoys equality and human rights.
On this day we are therefore justified to say that; as a nation we have come a long way. We are justified to say that our efforts to build a human rights culture are yielded positive results.
We are now a nation that is truly free.
In the words of a young grade 11 learner, who took part in the schools essay competition whose winners will be honoured today; " ... the democracy that our grandfathers such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Chris Hani fought for, is a great asset that the youth of South Africa cherish most today."
This learner writes further that; "We therefore honestly promise to defend this democracy in the air, on the high seas and on the land. We shall never allow it to go away from us again."
Guided by these wise words from a young learner who clearly is proud to be a South African we, must today make a pledge to continue defending human rights in our country.
We must work hard to ensure that; never again does anyone in our country suffer the humiliation and indignity of having their human rights taken away from them.
Let us act together to defend and support the work of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission in building and strengthening a human rights culture in our country.
In the North West, which is a largely rural province, we must defend the progress we have made in bringing human rights to our people in the farms.
We must support the of the Anti-legal evictions forum in defending the rights of labour tenants.
Furthermore, we must respond appropriately to the challenge of creating an environment conducive for free and fair elections on 14th April.
We must do all these things as part of ongoing efforts to defend the gains of our liberation and build a human rights culture.
I thank you!!!
Issued by Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
21 March 2004
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