Mpumalanga will celebrate Human Rights Day on Thursday, 21 March at the Vukuzakhe Stadium, Volksrust in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District.
The provincial Human Rights Day will be celebrated under the theme: “The right of access to water and sanitation - Our life, our dignity”
Human Rights Day is commemorated annually on March 21 in remembrance of the 69 people who were killed by the apartheid security forces in Sharpeville in 1960 when they were protesting against the draconian legislation of Pass Laws. The International community condemned the maiming of innocent protestors and applied more pressure on the apartheid regime to open up to democracy.
The new democratic government recognizes Human Rights Day and the month of March as a period during which the entire nation heightens its awareness on issues of Human Rights, reflets on the progress made towards entrenching them and identifies gaps that need to be closed.
The provincial government will celebrate the day by showing its caring nature where government leaders will hand over houses to identified needy families, furniture, wheelchairs, school uniform to needy learners, sport attire to identified clubs and food parcels.
The Spokesperson of the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Sibongile Nkosi encourages all people in the province particularly those in Gert Sibande District to attend the celebration so that they could know where we come from as the country.
“As part of preserving history and heritage, we want the people in the province to know about National Commemorated Days as heroes and heroines in the country waged countless struggles so that days like Human Rights Day can be celebrated,” Ms Nkosi says.
South Africa’s biggest Cellphone Operator, Vodacom has partnered with the provincial government and they will be providing furniture to the newly built houses that will be handed over to owners. Vodacom will also be rendering their services on how communities can benefit from their exciting products.
Government departments SASSA and Home Affairs and Chapter Nine institutions like the South African Human Rights Commission will be rendering services during the day and assisting communities to access services.
The well-known Kwaito artist, Professor will be entertaining patrons during the celebration. Buses are available in all municipalities of Gert Sibande.
For more info contact Ms Sibongile Nkosi on (013) 766 5372 or 082 492 4886.