Take a stand and fight for your rights

Your rights are as important as the right of the next person, writes Tshifhiwa Singo.

The Bill of Rights (chapter 2 of the constitution) is the utmost element of democracy in our country. The government has taken responsibility to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill. It has not been easy.

As we celebrated Human Rights Day yesterday, let us realise it was not only about braaiing. We should reflect about the pres- ent state of the country in terms of human rights and how we exercise our rights as individuals towards fellow citizens.

It is through this day that we can also think about the sacrifices that were made for liberation.

There are still some who think their rights are better than others. We are still facing incidents of racism and prejudice.

The incident in Mpumalanga where Victor Mlotshwa, the man who was beaten and placed into a coffin by two men in Middelburg, is a reminder that we still have a long – but achievable– way to go to have a society where we treat each other with dignity.

There is no right that addresses a particular group and leaves out another group. We are all protected by the same Bill of Rights. It does not make sense for someone to refuse me access to a particular place because of my colour.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If we all follow this commandment, we will have less incidents of racism and ill-treatment of people. We all have to take a stand, irrespective of our background, and fight for our rights.