Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed crowds at the George Thebe stadium in Sharpeville for a Human Rights Day clebration, 64 years on from the tragic Sharpeville massacre that gave rise to the day.
Ramaphosa commemorated the 69 lives lost on 21 March 1960 during the heigh of Apartheid, and to said how South Africa has grown tremendously since the dawn of democracy, with everyone now treated as equal humans with equal rights. He said that, 30 years later, South Africans can celebrate new freedom, the presidency said.
“This year we celebrate 30 years of freedom. And as we celebrate this milestone, we will reflect on the journey we have taken towards the full realisation of the fundamental freedoms contained in our Bill of Rights.” Ramaphosa said.
Fellow South Africans,
As we look back on 30 years of freedom, as we look back on decades of struggle for basic human rights, we must acknowlege the great strides that we have made. Working together, as a nation united, we have built a democracy that recognises the equal worth… pic.twitter.com/ikjwVlJnEw
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 21, 2024
He looked at the positive progress made in the constitution to recognise and realise social and economic rights contained in the constitution. Among them, the president listed millions lifted out of poverty, more households having access to water and electricity, fewer deaths in women and children, and an improvement in education and students going onto to study further.
He, too, acknowledged that, while there have been great positive strides, there is still great room for improvement.
He said that it was important for each person within the the constitution to be treated equally, and to come together as country to overcome key issues detrimental to growth, such as load shedding, and gender-based violence (GBV).
As we look back on 30 years of freedom, as we look back on decades of struggle for basic human rights, we must acknowledge the great strides that we have made. Working together, as a nation united, we have built a democracy that recognises the equal worth of every person. On this Human Rights Day, let us pledge to ourselves and each other that we will travel that road together.” he concluded
📸 President @CyrilRamaphosa lays a wreath at the Sharpeville Memorial site in honour of the fallen victims who embarked in protest marches around the country against pass laws.
The apartheid police shot and killed 69 of the protesters in Sharpeville as they were fleeing. Many… pic.twitter.com/y7tciA1QT7
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) March 21, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
