Presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that the country still has a long way to go before everyone could “equally” exercise the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
He delivered a wide-ranging speech on Human Rights Day in Sharpeville on Thursday, where 69 people were shot and killed by apartheid-era police during a peaceful march on 21 March 1960.
“As we begin the next decade of freedom, we must strive together not only to safeguard the rights of everyone in our country but to ensure that all may enjoy the equal protection and the equal benefit of these rights.
“We must strive together for a society of equals, where none may claim dominance over another, where there is neither privilege nor disadvantage.
“We must transform our economy so that all people may participate and so that all may benefit, so that all may share in the country’s wealth,” he said.
As we celebrate 30 years of Freedom, we will reflect on the progress we have made in progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution.
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???????? (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 21, 2024
We have much to celebrate.
#HumanRightsDay ???????? pic.twitter.com/1JbXD12tF8
President Ramaphosa also reflected on the progress the country has made in the past 30 years, noting strides made in “progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution.”
He said there was much to celebrate.
“Millions of South Africans have been lifted out of dire poverty. Eight out of every 10 households have proper housing.
“Nine out of every 10 homes have electricity and access to cleaning drinking water.
“South Africans are living longer. Far fewer women are dying in childbirth and far fewer children are dying in infancy.
“More children from poor families are completing school, passing matric, and going on to study at universities and colleges,” the President said.
