Government committed to protecting and preserving human rights
As we commemorate Human Rights Month in March, we should reflect on the painful, yet victorious journey travelled by South Africans to achieve basic human rights. On that note, we also proudly celebrate 30 Years of Freedom this year.
It is important to remember that the human rights we enjoy today did not come on a silver platter.
Gallant men and women from all walks of life had to fight hard against the apartheid regime, and many lost their lives, to ensure that we enjoy freedom and democracy.
As we celebrate Human
Rights Day on 21 March, which commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre, where 69 people who were peacefully protesting against pass laws were killed and 180 wounded by apartheid police, we must foster social cohesion and nation-building.
During apartheid, various draconian laws entrenched racial segregation and controlled the movement of black people in urban areas. For example, in terms of the Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952, black people could not travel from a rural area to an urban area without a permit from the local authorities and they had to obtain a permit to seek work within 72 hours.
After refusing to endorse the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the apartheid regime continued to oppress the majority of South Africans by imposing restrictions that prevented them access to certain public amenities such as beaches and public toilets.
Under apartheid rule, black people were not allowed to vote or openly engage in politics, and were barred from owning property in the suburbs, among others. Job reservation prevented suitably qualified black people from occupying
certain employment positions.
Following the dawn of the hard-won freedom in 1994, the democratic government undertook the mammoth task of redressing the social ills of the past by transforming the country’s socio-economic and political landscape.
At the time the country’s income distribution was racially distorted and South Africa was among the most unequal societies in the world. Women, in particular, were subjected to gender discrimination and bias while rural people and youth were marginalised.
Thanks to the Bill of Rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, South Africa now upholds the rule of law that promotes and protects basic human rights for all, regardless of race, colour or creed.
To redress the imbalances of the past, government introduced various programmes and policies aimed at ensuring a better life for all, particularly the historically disadvantaged.
Government has since implemented various laws that seek to redress the injustices of the past. The Employment Equity Act of 1998 aims to achieve equality in the workplace, thus eliminating unfair discrimination and creating a diverse workforce representative of the people of South Africa. The Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act of 2003 aims to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy.
The Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act of 2000 provides guidelines that organs of the State need to follow when formulating and implementing their procurement policies.
The Labour Relations Act of 1995 transformed the workplace by ensuring that the rights of workers are respected and exercised within the law. Among other things, the Act regulates the organisational rights of trade unions, and promotes and facilitates collective bargaining in the workplace. It also deals with strikes and lockouts, and the promotion of employee participation in decision-making through the establishment of workplace forums.
On the other hand, the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) Act of 1994 ensured the establishment of the Nedlac, a vehicle by which government, labour, business and community organisations seek to cooperate – through problem-solving and negotiation – on economic, labour and development issues, and related challenges facing the country.
While more still needs to be done, these laws have gone a long way in addressing inequality and other unjust factors in South Africa. Government continues to promote access to education, a right which is also enshrined in our Constitution.
More people now have access to institutions of higher learning. Government has put in place various programmes that ensure that no one is left behind in accessing education.
Through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, for example, government ensures that students from poor family backgrounds are able to study at tertiary institutions.
As we commemorate Human Rights Month, let us bear in mind that we are responsible for ensuring that government’s inclusive programmes that aim to deliver human rights are implemented.
As citizens, irrespective of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, let us promote our hard-won rights and protect them from violation. ❖