Chair, when we step out of our comfortable existence and pay a visit to where the majority of South Africans live - the townships and rural South Africa - we then begin to doubt that there is even such a concept as human rights in South Africa. If it does exist on paper, is it worth celebrating?
Of course, the Constitution lays out the rights beautifully and is internationally acclaimed, but many of these rights are enjoyed only by those who can afford them. The institutions tasked as overseers, so to speak, of the Constitution continue to falter, leaving citizens vulnerable. Almost all of the rights are insignificant when socioeconomic rights are wilfully neglected.
Human dignity is seriously impaired by degrading levels of poverty and persistent unemployment. For the 40% of South Africans that are without jobs, what freedoms and rights do they enjoy in their circumstances? For the 76% of South African households living in informal dwellings, what meaning do human rights have for them? As for those that are forced to accept poorly constructed RDP houses, what recourse do they have? If they don't have or can't access any recourse, what can you then say to them about rights?
I am of the opinion that as long as the majority of our people live in abject poverty, then none of these freedoms and rights carry any meaning at all. Thank you. [Applause.]