28 years into democracy
There is little achieved when it comes to human rights, particularly Black people’s human rights.
This year marks the 62nd commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre.
This commemoration coincides with the unfortunate killing of our women and children in this country and also life struggles faced by our people that came with the Covid- 19 pandemic.
Such struggles faced by this nation remind many of us that South Africa is a nation built on pain and struggle.
As the country commemorates this day we are taken back to March 21 1960, where this day was engraved in the heritage of this country.
Many Black people were brutally killed by the apartheid regime, for their stance against the pass laws.
The question remains, what Black people of that time fought for has it been achieved? When one looks at South Africa one can witness a country still divided.
The pass laws act may not be in existence now but the mentality of pass laws is still in existence, which is the mentality of segregation. What does one mean by this? Many Black people in this country are still underprivileged, still leaving in poverty.
Their fight back then was around freedom of movement without hurdles. In the present day the fight is on economic freedom without hurdles. How do they break the man-made barriers that are stopping them from participating in the economy fully and be able to create generational wealth?
What means after 28 years in democracy do Black people have in order to fight for the restitution of land? South Africa today is still faced with pass laws act that are in different shape/ form.
Black people are still at the forefront of many societal and economic battles. 28 years into democracy, however there is little achieved when it comes to human rights, particularly Black people’s human rights.
Black people in this country are still subjected to pain and inhumane conditions.
Their human rights are always policed with cruelty.
When they fight for their human rights they are not heard till there is a dead body. What then becomes the significance of human rights day when rights of civilians in this country are not respected? Even worse women and children’s rights are compromised daily.
As the country commemorates this heroic day, let this be a reminder that Human rights should always be put into observed with great empathy.
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