The 21st of March is commonly known as Human Rights Day and is celebrated country wide as a public holiday. The Sharpeville Massacre was one of the incidents that drew international attention into seeing the gross violation of human rights by the system of government in place in the 1960’s.
When the new democratic government took over in 1994, it therefore declared that this day be taken as a public holiday in honour of those who lost their lives fighting for the rights we are enjoying today. It was then officially marked in the Gregorian calendar.
Festivities are organised by different sectors of society and the government to commemorate this day and so did Imbabazane Local Municipality under the leadership of Mayor Phindile Strydom.
She held community dialogue on rights and responsibilities of citizens in this municipality. This event was held at Emanjokweni in ward two on March 20. The main aim here was to sensitise residents and educate them about their rights in general. This dialogue was conducted under the auspices of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) in which the Mayor is a champion.
At Imbabazane when activities of this kind are organised, they are not just talk shows, but become a vehicle to service delivery in the process. This one was also no different because government departments were also invited to assist people by rendering their services on the day.
Among those present were, the Department of Health (DOH), South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DEDTEA), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Department of Education (DOE) and the South African Police Services (SAPS). All these departments were given a chance to address the community on their roles and responsibilities and gave community members a chance to interact with them at their strategic points on site. Consumer rights, rights of patients, learner’s rights, rights to a safe environment and rights of older persons were all clarified to the community.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was also part of the program to conduct democracy education. For many people this was a moment of truth as their worry of long wait in the offices in town is history.
