Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
CAPE TOWN - As South Africa starts Human Rights Month it is important to continue with the debate on what this month means to us and the world.
When Africans peacefully marched against the oppressive Pass Laws, they were gunned down in various parts of the country. As is widely known, this particular march was organised by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC).
But more striking, in terms of numbers, was the massacre in Sharpeville where at least 69 people were shot dead, with 180 wounded.
The changing from Sharpeville and Langa Day to Human Rights Day has had a weakening effect on the importance of the day.
We need to go back to calling March 21 Sharpeville and Langa Day, so that the new generation can know and remember the significance of the day and connect to it as part of their heritage and history. This would boost the self-esteem and confidence of a people with a painful but courageous history.
Democratic South Africa at age 28, needs to find the deeper meaning of the legacy of Sharpeville Day in that the majority of black South Africans still suffer through their impoverished conditions of poverty and underdevelopment.
The freedom attained in 1994 has been rather meaningless for the more than 20 million people who don’t know where the next meal will come from. The thousands of victims of crime and violence each year go through this day in hope of a better life and true freedom.
The constitutionally enshrined right of a Basic Income Grant (BIG) for those in most need, has been neglected. What’s the point of freedom and democracy if people in need are not cared for?
As always when issues affecting the disadvantaged masses are discussed, the excuse of a tight national ficus and budget is brought up.
And when it’s time for parliamentarians and the president to receive a salary increase, then there’s silence.
Even the visible and vocal opposition parliamentarians seem only to exist when it is their turn to “cash up”.
An even greater debate is needed today more than ever, as to what the people who sacrificed so much with some paying the ultimate price stand to gain in the so-called free South Africa Anarchy seems to be the order of the day, on the streets through crime, violent protests, and university students and certain citizens destroying property.
It is very clear to see that South Africa is still a wounded nation. The Pass Laws and colonial apartheid may have fallen from the statute books, but their destructive elements still form part of our everyday reality.
Importantly though, it won’t help blaming only the government for failing to fix our broken country. The responsibility lies with all stakeholders.
What would be of great help would be for all those who care to rally others to find solutions for healing a damaged society.
How did other countries with similar historical experiences deal with their post-colonial conditions?
Another area that needs to be explored is the role that can be played by the Department of Education in running school campaigns to commemorate the month of March nationally.
Heroes and heroines of the Struggle who are highly knowledgeable about Sharpeville and Langa Day could be asked to do talks at schools about the meaning of that period of the Struggle.
And apart from the activities the PAC holds during this month and on March 21, plays, sport games, essays, speech and debating competitions, musical festivals paying tribute to Sharpeville and Langa Day and including human rights issues should take place to revive the meaning of this day.
Among other solution-driven debates, the BIG needs to be a top priority as it is better positioned to address many of the poverty-related challenges we face.
Perhaps all these ideas could help reignite the fading South African dream.
Mgudlwa is an award-winning journalist
Cape Times