SHARPEVILLE. – In honour of the 69 fallen victims of the Sharpeville Massacre, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the area and laid wreaths at the human rights precinct on Thursday, 21 March.
The president was joined by several Ministers, MECs, Mayors, and thousands of guests in commemorating the 2024 Human Rights Day.
The day started bright and early at the Phelindaba Cemetery where the victims are buried, for the annual wreath-laying ceremony which was attended by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Emfuleni Mayor Sipho Radebe, Sedibeng District Mayor Lerato Maloka, survivors and family members of the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre.
Popularly known as Sharpeville in the small-knit community, the day saw 69 peaceful protesters marching against discriminatory pass laws were shot dead and many others wounded by apartheid police in 1960.
Following the wreath-laying by the president, his entourage descended to the cricket pitch where the national event was held.
This year’s commemoration in Sharpeville coincides with the 30th anniversary of the country’s attainment of freedom and democracy.
Delivering his keynote address in a packed marquee tent, Ramaphosa said the country had much to celebrate as a lot had changed since 1994.
“Sixty-four years have passed since the ground on which we gather here in Sharpeville bore witness to one of the worst atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against the South African people. Though many decades have passed, we still remember with great sorrow and pain the 69 people who were killed and the many more who were maimed as they protested in peace against the grave injustices imposed upon them,” he said.
The first citizen of Mzansi added that he witnessed visible pain in the eyes of the families though they couldn’t shed tears.
Reflecting on the journey towards the full realisation of the fundamental freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights.
“We gather here so that we may trace our journey as a nation over the last 64 years, from a state of discrimination and repression to a land of democracy and freedom. We recall how many generations of black South Africans were denied the right to life and dignity, the right to equal treatment, the right to vote and to be heard, the right to live where they want, to work in the trade of their choice, the right to education and health care, the right to the protection of the law,” said Ramaphosa.
“As we celebrate 30 years of Freedom, we will reflect on the progress we have made in progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution. We have much to celebrate,” he said.
