Reflect on the value of freedom
THE SA Human Rights Commission joined the rest of the country in celebrating Freedom Day.
This day recalls that historic event 29 years ago, on April 27, 1994, when multitudes of people young and old stood in long queues to experience for the first time the constitutional right to vote alongside their previously enfranchised countrymen and women.
Freedom Day also provides an opportunity for the country to take stock of and reflect on the meaning of freedom, the bill of rights and the Constitution.
In an era where there is rampant lawlessness, and where women and children are not free to walk or play outside their homes without fear of being accosted by criminal elements, the country as a whole needs to reflect on the value of freedom, especially in poorer communities where people cannot afford private security.
Our criminal justice system is not geared to protecting ordinary people, and many criminals are left to terrorise communities unimpeded by law enforcement officials.
The reality for many in the country is that they are not free to move around, and are thus curtailed in their right to freedom.
Safety and social harmony are key to realising and exercising many rights and freedoms.
Many women and children are not safe in their own homes, due to the violence they are subjected to, including by those who bear the responsibility of protecting them.
We should each reflect on these matters and the responsibilities we bear individually and collectively to ensure there is safety, security and harmony for all.
During Freedom Day, we recall the historic images of people standing in long queues to exercise for the first time the right to vote, thus ushering in the new democratic era.
Statistics reveal that voter turnout dropped from 77.3% in 2009 to 73.5% in 2014, and then sunk drastically to 66.1% in 2019.
The commission calls on all South Africans to consider that participation in elections by all eligible voters makes democracy vibrant and is a civic responsibility we all bear.
Finally, the commission wishes to urge citizens to take stock of their individual contribution towards shaping our daily realities and begin to reflect on our collective responsibilities by becoming active citizens.