Sipho Mmola from Mojeteng village says “I think the rights of foreigners are not protected, and many of them are not bad people. We can learn a lot of things from them. Yes, we are celebrating human rights, but many people are not aware of these rights. There should be many campaigns to educate people about their rights, not just celebrate human rights day once a year.
The country will be celebrating Human Rights Day, next week Tuesday, March 21.
A public holiday for many, but the day also marks the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this day in response to the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, where dozens of peaceful protesters were killed by the apartheid government.
Herald took to the streets to get people’s views on Human Rights and the fight against racism and xenophobia in South Africa…this is some of their views:
Azania Mapfumari from Nkowankowa says “We cannot put the rights of foreigners ahead of those of South Africans. Foreigners are not respecting South Africans. Many of these foreigners are violent, but at the same time we must not encourage violence against them because they are also humans.
Jackson Machimana from Burgersdorp village says “I don’t think we have done enough to protect the human rights of foreigners. Human rights are human rights for all, not only for South Africans. Government should educate people more on the protection of human rights. Racism is still alive, is partly the reason why we still have the problem on the lack of respect for human rights, including xenophobia.”
Agnes Monareng, from Motupa village says “the biggest problem now is not racism, but tribalism. We are not respecting people of other tribes. You still have people who believe that their tribe is superior to others. Government employees also violet human rights of the most vulnerable. Nurses in most clinics are not treating us very well.
Gift Dube from Elim, says “not all people are racists. There are just a few people who fail to relate with people of different races. We also need to treat with care our brothers from other African countries. We all need to feel safe within our communities.”
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