As the country prepares to commemorate Human Rights Day on March 21st, some South Africans say there is still a long way ahead.
The theme for Human Right Day 2015 is “Celebrating the Freedom Charter, Enjoying Equal Human Rights for All”. The main event will be held at Rosedale Field in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape.
Some of the young people say days such as these will soon lose their meaning if today’s youth only focuses on hosting braais.
University student Johannes Moima says recent reports of racism in learning institutions are worrying.
He says it is unacceptable that even today people are still separated because the colour of their skin.
Moima adds that human rights must be promoted on a daily basis and not only on March 21st.
“… I think that days such as human rights day must be used to remember those who lost their lives fighting for us during apartheid,” adds Moima.
Meanwhile, South African reggae and R&B singer Victor Khojane, who is popularly known as Dr Victor says Human Rights Day is a day that every citizen “should remember where we come from as a country”.
Speaking to SABC Digital News, Khojane says it is the responsibility of every South African to continue building the country and not divide the nation.
‘Well I think it’s a milestone in our lives to look back at the past and how far we’ve come as human beings. These were people who fought for our rights. People like Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko. We should not forget those people that died for the cause of freedom. My understanding about human rights is to reflect back on the past and how far we’ve come. This is why we celebrate Human Rights Day as we celebrate our forefathers and to have this modern civilized world.
“We must not forget what our forefathers built,” he concludes.
Dr Victor is in the Eastern Cape for a music and arts festival that is taking place on Saturday.
He explains: “It’s an annual festival which is short of funding to no funding. We have a pandemic drug problem in the community so we’re trying to uplift the community through arts and music. The event runs in Uitenage and Johannesburg and we are proud to have been invited to this festival as it’s giving something back.”
Human Rights Day is an annual commemoration to remind South African citizens about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for democracy and freedom that is been enjoyed.
– By Tshepiso Moche
