On Monday, March 21, South Africans across the country will commemorate the events of March 21, 1960 (Sharpeville massacre), remembering the great sacrifice and loss of life that accompanied the struggle for human rights, during the apartheid era. So what are the human rights which we all celebrate, but many don’t really respect? Human rights are rights that are generally available to everyone, irrespective of their gender, caste, nationality or colour. Human rights are related to life, dignity and liberty. In the modern world, the state is held accountable for ensuring such rights, but in SA, the state is seemingly the biggest perpetrator of human rights infringements – one look at the situation of our roads, hospitals, schools, electricity and water disruptions and failing police force, etc, tells a sad story. The democracy we enjoy in this country came at a high price. Yet, the once proud SA which ANC and PAC stalwarts and others fought for and gave their lives for, has now turned into a horror movie.
The Laudium Sun joins all South Africans in paying tribute to those who paved the way for the establishment of a society based on democratic values and fundamental human rights. It is prudent that we recall the sacrifices made, at the same time realising that the spectre of corruption, whether it be nepotism or self-serving greed and other evils, is ever present and that our country needs each one of us in the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity to be a reality, instead of merely being on paper.
