March 21, 2025 – Human Rights Day, South Africa
Sixty-five years ago, on March 21, 1960, the world bore witness to one of the darkest chapters in our history. In Sharpeville, 69 innocent lives were taken, and 180 more were wounded – slaughtered for daring to demand their fundamental rights. What should have been a moment of peaceful defiance against injustice became a massacre, forever etching the horrific event into our collective memory.
Today, as we mark this solemn anniversary, we do so not just to mourn, but to remember – so that we never allow such an atrocity to be repeated. Human Rights Day is not only a commemoration of those we lost but a stark reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today. However, true remembrance must not be passive; it must be a call to action.
Let us be unequivocal: we denounce all forms of violence, regardless of the perpetrator. Whether it comes from the state, from within our communities, or through the exploitation of our economic and social vulnerabilities, violence can never be justified. A nation that tolerates violence – be it physical, economic, or systemic – chips away at its own foundation.
As we reflect on the past, we must ask ourselves: have we honoured the sacrifices of Sharpeville, and other massacres that have happened since, including Boipatong and Marikana. Have we built the just, equitable, and prosperous South Africa that so many fought and died for? The answer, if we are honest, is not yet. The struggle did not end with the fall of apartheid; the struggle continues against poverty, corruption, lawlessness, and the failures of governance that hold our nation hostage. The struggle must also be against contemporary divisive narratives that risk tearing our Nation apart if we remain quiet, either through fear or complicity.
TUSAM stands firm in the belief that we must never again allow South Africa to descend into such darkness. Never again must any citizen or group of citizens feel unheard, unprotected, or disregarded by their own government. Never again must human dignity be a negotiable principle. For this, we call on both the government and all South Africans to take responsibility:
Government must lead with integrity. Fiscal mismanagement, corruption, and failure to act in the best interests of the nation are forms of violence against the people. Leadership is not about holding power; it is about service, accountability, and responsiveness to both global realities and local hardships. We demand responsible governance that prioritises South Africans over self-interest.
Citizens must embrace their Obligations. Rights come with duties. If we are to rebuild South Africa into a place of peace, opportunity, and dignity for all, we must take ownership of our communities. We must reject division and apathy, choosing instead to repair and uplift our villages, towns, and cities – not just for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow.
Unity and social cohesion are not lofty ideals; they are necessities. We must work together – across race, class, and political lines – to build a country that is worthy of the sacrifices made at Sharpeville. South Africa is ours to heal, ours to strengthen, and ours to protect.
On this Human Rights Day, let Sharpeville be more than a painful memory. Let it be a guiding force. Let it remind us of what we must never allow again and what we must strive toward: a South Africa that truly upholds the rights, dignity, and humanity of all its people.
For ourselves. For our children. For the future of our beloved nation.
Never again. Forward together.
For media enquiries, please contact Pierre Coetzer on 074 141 9888 or pierre@tusam.co.za