Much to celebrate but SA’s journey far from complete — Ramaphosa

As SA commemorated Human Rights Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country had much to celebrate as a lot had changed since 1994.

Ramaphosa marked the occasion yesterday by laying a wreath at the memorial site in honour of the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960.

The national event coincides this year with the 30th anniversary of SA’s attainment of democracy.

Ramaphosa said he met the families of people who had been killed in Sharpeville and saw pain in their eyes.

“Sixty-four years have passed since the ground on which we gather here in Sharpeville bore witness to one of the worst atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against the SA people.

“Though many decades have passed, we still remember with great sorrow and pain the 69 people who were killed and the many more who were maimed as they protested in peace against the grave injustices imposed upon them.

“We gather here so that we may trace our journey as a nation over the last 64 years, from a state of discrimination and repression to a land of democracy and freedom.”

Looking back on the past 30 years of freedom, Ramaphosa said there was much to celebrate as millions of South Africans had been lifted out of dire poverty.

More children from poor families were completing schooling, passing matric and going on to study at universities and colleges.

“This has been made possible because we have, as a country, focused on correcting the injustices of the past and meeting the needs of the poor and excluded.”

However, the journey was far from complete.

“As we begin the next decade of freedom, we must strive together not only to safeguard the rights of everyone in our country, but to ensure that all may enjoy the equal protection and the equal benefit of these rights.

“We must transform our economy so that all people may participate and so that all may benefit, so that all may share in the country’s wealth.”

Earlier, PAC leader Mzwanele Nyhontso and former ANC secretary-general and now ACT leader Ace Magashule also laid wreaths at the Sharpeville Memorial.