Premier Cassel Mathale urged the public to take a moment to think about the people of Palestine and Western Sahara who continue to live under oppression where their rights to sovereignty and other human rights are violated daily.
He said this during an address at Aganang municipality on Human Rights Day.
He said: “We must also remember many comrades and innocent civilians who were killed in Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Namibia and other parts of the continent. Many Africans laid down their lives as part of furthering the objectives of our cause for freedom and democracy.”
Mathale pointed out that human rights month this year had the theme of joining hands to promote unity in diversity and human dignity for all.
He said: “We have always understood that the most immediate fundamental step needed to take our nation forward was the unity of our people across all racial lines.
“This year, we are also celebrating 15 years since the adoption of our Constitution, which is the supreme law of the republic. Our Constitution does not only promote the fundamental rights of our people but also guarantees these rights with a remedy for their violation.”
Mathale said the ANC-led government will continue to protect the institutions that are aimed at strengthening our democracy such the Chapter 9 institutions and, most importantly, the judiciary.
“We have registered great strides in uniting our people behind the new vision of respecting each other’s history and culture.
“We must continue with the work of building a united nation that offers more opportunities for our people.
“Our efforts to construct a caring society that is more interested in building a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South African must continue.”
On the African situation, Mathale said: “The fact that hundreds of thousands of our fellow Africans, including women and children, are in refugee camps means more still needs to be done in creating a situation where human rights are respected and promoted.”
On the recent conviction of warlord Thomas Kubanga he said: “The punishment of the violators of human rights must not be restricted to African people, but must also include other people from other continents, especially leaders of the so-called ‘super powers’.
“All perpetrators of human rights must be prosecuted. There is no convention that says only Africans must endure the wrath of justice,” said Mathale.
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