The Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Vasco da Gama, could not let March end without reminding Joburg residents about the significance of Human Rights Day.
Cllr Da Gama held an awareness campaign at Bramfisherville Multipurpose Centre in Soweto on Friday and made reference to a few rights in the Bill of Rights as they appear in Chapter 2 of the Constitution:
• The Right to Life,
• The Right to Education, Dignity, Equality,
• The Right Housing, Health, Clean Environment
• The Right to Free Speech and Expression
• The Right of Association
“We have chosen today to celebrate and conclude the month of March as Human Rights Month that millions in this country did not enjoy. Countless lives and sacrifices were made for the ultimate achievement of these rights that place a big responsibility on all of us, the citizens in this country,” he said.
“The constitution is more emphatic on the responsibility of the state to act prudently and responsibly to ensure that all citizens enjoy these rights. It is for this reason that we gave this Human Rights awareness celebration the theme ‘Our rights, our responsibility’.”
Cllr Da Gama said the Bill of Rights were a defining feature and a cornerstone of this young democracy. He paid respect to the memory of the citizens who were massacred in Sharpeville, saying their memory must continue to inspire South Africans to work harder to attain the dream of a South Africa governed by respect for human rights and flourishing of culture of human rights.
Among the attendees were Cllr Mandla Mlangeni, Brigadier Ngubane from Dobsonville SAPS, Rapelang Simente – Executive Director of Young Voices Academy, principals of the early child development centres, leaders of various community organisations, residents from Bramfischerville, Snake Park, Dobsonville, Slovoville and Durban Deep.
