South Africa: The Government of South Africa has reminded all that only eight (8) days are left to observe the Human Rights Day. The Federation shared a poster regarding the keynote addressal that will be delivered by the Deputy President Paul Mashatile on March 21, 2025 at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Rosedale, Eastern Cape.
The keynote address will be delivered in the morning at 9:00 am and will be telecasted live on major news channels. Human Rights Day is a great occasion to celebrate and honour the heroes who struggled for our democracy and equality.
In their post the South African Government said, “8 Days to Human Rights Day! 8 days left! Human Rights Day is a reminder of the country’s journey to democracy, Let’s honour our past and build a brighter future for all.”
Human Rights Month is commemorated every year in March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa. The month of March is a heightened period in South Africa to mark the Human Rights Month that will be commemorated in 2025 under the theme – Deepening a culture of social justice and human rights.
In 1960s, it was characterised by the systematic defiance and protest against apartheid and racism across the country. On March 21, 1960 the community of Sharpeville and Langa townships, appreciated their fellow compatriots across the country that was embarked on a ‘Protest March’ to protest against the pass laws.
8 Days to Human Rights Day! 🕒
8 days left! Human Rights Day is a reminder of our country’s journey to democracy. Let’s honor our past and build a brighter future for all! 🌟https://t.co/2auuUoUYg5 📱
#HumanRightsDay #HumanRightsMonth2025 #GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/qDZ1jtUVbl— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) March 13, 2025
The apartheid police shot, killed 69 protesters at Sharpeville and many of them were shot while fleeing. Many other people were killed in other parts of the country. The tragedy came to be known at the Sharpeville Massacre and it exposed the apartheid government’s deliberate violation of human rights to the world.
As per the sources, the democratic government declared 21st March as Human Rights Day to commemorate and honour those who fought for the liberation and the rights the people of South Africa enjoy today.
The South African Constitution is hailed as one of the most progressive in the world. The Constitution is the ultimate protector of the Human Rights, which were previously denied to the majority of the people under Apartheid.
Mzansi commemorate Human Rights Day to reinforce the commitment to the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Majorly, the 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.
The Government added that whether they are at the workplace, within communities, at schools or with the parents and children, as they all need to demonstrate the kind of responsibility that they would like to see in the future of the country.
The officials added that they urged all South Africans to use Human Rights Months to foster the greater social cohesion, nation-building and a shared national identity.
“It is our duty as a nation to strive for inclusive socio-economic development while ensuring that we combat scourges such as racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all related intolerances as well as gender-based violence and femicide, which are undermining our human rights culture,” they added.