In today’s edition we are running the beginning of a two-part series based on Human Rights Day on 21 March.
In Grahamstown, as is the case all over South Africa, there are many unsung struggle heroes who, together with Nelson Mandela and other well known struggle veterans fought for the liberation of all South
Africans from apartheid.
In today’s edition we are running the beginning of a two-part series based on Human Rights Day on 21 March.
In Grahamstown, as is the case all over South Africa, there are many unsung struggle heroes who, together with Nelson Mandela and other well known struggle veterans fought for the liberation of all South
Africans from apartheid.
A question then arises, does the younger generation grasp the meaning behind this celebration? It came as a surprise to me that one university student I spoke to did not know what 21 March means for South Africa.
However one cannot entirely blame him for his ignorance if those in power do not educate the younger generation about such issues.
Instead they take ownership of this historic day and sideline the other citizens of this country. Human Rights Day should not only commemorate the Sharpville massacre but should be used by our government to fight against human rights violations of any kind.
The Equality Court of the country should be applauded for finding ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema guilty of hate speech.
A year ago Malema told a gathering of students in Cape Town that the Jacob Zuma rape accuser must have had a "nice time".
He was ordered to pay an amount of R50 000 to a centre for abused women and to make a public apology. We are eagerly waiting for the law to take its course with regards to Malema’s umpteenth outburst a week ago when he sang a song about ‘killing boers’.
With a country that is still recovering from the scourge of apartheid, our society does not need such outbursts which cause unnecessary racial tension.
We are hoping that the government uses its resources to educate the younger generation about the significance of Human Rights Day and the fight against all human rights violations, including those made by our leaders.
