By Simon Nare
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the nation to reject the politics of dividing the country that is emerging from many parts of the world.
He says South Africans must not allow events happening beyond the country’s shores to turn them against each other.
In his weekly newsletter on Monday, the president reminded the country that as it commemorated the massacre of 69 Sharpeville protesters on Human Rights Day, South Africa was recognised globally for upholding human rights.
Ramaphosa said that since the advent of democracy South Africa has strived to build a society that recognised the injustices of the past while advancing reconciliation and national unity.
He said this was why 21 March was chosen as the occasion to recommit the country to the advancement of human rights for all.
“As South Africans we should, therefore, reject the politics of divisiveness that is emerging in many parts of the world. In particular, we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution.
“We should not allow events beyond our shores to divide us or turn us against each other. Since the end of apartheid our country has been recognised globally for upholding human rights. The free flow of ideas and opinions are vital to democracy and to having a vibrant society,” he wrote.
The president said that at the dawn of democracy, South Africa chose the path of reconciliation and nation building and adopted of a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that guaranteed the human dignity of all, regardless of their race, gender, culture, religion ethnic or social origin, age, disability, language or birth.
He said South Africans should be proud of the fact that most of its people continued to believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law as universal values.
Ramaphosa added that South Africans were also able to exercise their rights freely and could approach independent courts and institutions supporting democracy if their rights were infringed or violated.
“We can be proud that South Africans are confident they have a voice and a say in how their country is run, demonstrated by the fact that we have held successive free and fair elections since 1994,” he said.
There were constitutional protections guaranteed to all racial, cultural and linguistic groups, including their right to enjoy their culture and to use their language.
“Even those with the most offensive views should know that in democratic South Africa, and unlike many other parts of the world, our Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, as long as it does not include incitement to violence or advocacy of racial and other hatred,” he said.
Ramaphosa said that in view of the perilous state of human rights in many parts of the world, including the resurgence of racism, South Africa’s path of reconciliation and nation building was relevant today.
“As we reflect on the state of human rights in South Africa during this month, let us be proud of our achievements as a country. At the same time, let us recommit ourselves to working together to ensure our human rights culture is upheld and strengthened,” he said.
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