What’s Human Rights Day all about?
Everyone enjoys public holidays, but it’s important to understand why we commemorate them. South Africa has a painful history and on Human Rights Day, we remember the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre. This was an event where many sacrificed their lives as they pushed back against the apartheid regime to secure the rights that we enjoy today.
What was the Sharpeville massacre?
On the 21st March 1960, a group called the Pan African Congress (PAC) decided to organise a peaceful protest in the black township of Sharpeville against the pass laws (which forced black South Africans to always carry a pass (dompas). A “dompas" was an official document that black people had to carry with them to prove their identity and where they could live or work. The government used pass laws to control the movement of black South Africans, restricting where they could work and live.
The plan was for protestors to march to the local police station without their passes and ask to be arrested. Police fired on the crowd, killing 69 and injuring more than 180 people.
In December 1996, two years after the end of apartheid, South Africa enacted a new constitution that enshrined the rights and freedoms of all peoples. It was signed by President Nelson Mandela in the town of Sharpeville, very close to where the massacre had happened. Today, the 21st March is commemorated as Human Rights Day.
4 ways to commemorate Human Rights Day this year
Visit a memorial site
The 3 main memorial sites of the Sharpeville Massacre are the police station where the crowds gathered, Phelindaba Cemetery, where the graves of those who were killed are, and the Memorial Garden, which is situated within the cemetery. These sites can be found in Vereeniging, but be sure to check COVID-19 regulations before you visit them. You can also place flowers on the graves of those who lost their lives for our freedom.
Get acquainted with our history
If you aren’t in the Gauteng area or you’d like a more socially distanced option, you can commemorate Human Rights Day from home. Gather up your loved ones and watch a few documentaries or movies on human rights. You could also listen to some historical podcasts or radio broadcasts dedicated to Human Rights Day. This’ll help you better understand what South Africans went through during the time of the massacre. You’ll also gain a better appreciation for the freedoms that we have today. Some good options include:
- Echoes of My Past: A Personal History of the Sharpeville Massacre, a documentary by Thabang Molibeli.
- The movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
- The Africa Rights Talk podcast.
- Museums: The Slave Lodge in Cape Town, the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha and the KwaZulu-Natal Museum.
Get to know and understand your rights
The Sharpeville Massacre reminds us of how those who’ve come before us were willing to put their lives at risk, to free us from apartheid so we can enjoy the rights that we have today. Show your appreciation for their legacy by getting to know your rights. Start with the 10 basic human rights as laid out in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 – Chapter 2: Bill of Rights.
Volunteer your services
Fight for the human rights of others by lending your time and efforts. You could volunteer at a local soup kitchen or children’s home, or donate to any other cause of your choice if physical volunteering isn’t an option for you.
Human Rights come with responsibilities, and we all have the responsibility to build a society that respects the rule of law. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our human rights and history is preserved and strengthened for future generations.
What did you celebrate this Human Rights Day, Choma?
If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).
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