Deputy Speaker, Chair, Deputy Chair of the NCOP, and Ministers, I am privileged to take part in this very important debate that commemorates the lives of our compatriots and narrates our nation's inspirational and profound journey to a free, democratic South Africa. As a veteran of the struggle for the liberation of our people, I feel even more honoured to narrate the journey that our nation travelled with conviction to see the liberation of our people from the shackles of apartheid and the brutality of its forces.
I was told that I would take part in this debate to pay tribute and homage to the outstanding compatriots of our people who performed selfless acts of bravery for the liberation of our people on the brink of giant thoughts and faulty memories. I am reminded of the journey travelled to a free, nonracial, nonsexist and democratic South Africa.
Allow me to borrow the words of wisdom of a 19th century USA poet, Walt Whitman, who wrote the poem, A child said, What is the grass?, and I quote:
I wish I could translate the hints about the dead young men and women, And the hints about old men and mothers, and the offspring taken soon out of their laps.
He then answered himself by saying:
They are alive and well somewhere; The smallest sprouts show there is really no death ...
There is really no death for those who showed signs of bravery. Perhaps today I have no choice but to translate, in the context of our current realities, the hints about our dead young men and women of Sharpeville, Langa and Nyanga, and the hints about old men and mothers and the offspring taken out of their laps.
Hon Speaker, we hold this important debate to pay tribute to the martyrs of our freedom who, 50 years ago, were brutally massacred and murdered on 21 March 1960 in Sharpeville, Langa, Nyanga and Vanderbijlpark. It was on this day that the apartheid regime ordered its forces to shoot and kill compatriots of our nation who were peacefully marching to protest against the apartheid laws. By the end of 21 March 1960, 69 black people were killed and over 300 women, men and children were injured in Sharpeville, Langa, Nyanga and Vanderbijlpark.
The savage massacre of African patriots at Sharpeville, Langa, Nyanga and Vanderbijlpark on 21 March 1960 is of paramount significance in the struggle against apartheid. It was a tragic day which unquestionably marked a turning point in the struggle for the liberation of our country. Over the years, this day became a source of inspiration and a platform for mobilising our people in schools, at workplaces and in the very same communities that were ravaged by apartheid neglect. This day carries a formidable memory that rejuvenates the spirit of our people to rise and fight for their freedom. Consequently, it was this day that highlighted our plight, as we waged a concerted fight against apartheid which drew the attention and solidarity of the international community.
In 1973, the General Assembly of the United Nations took one of the most profound decisions and declared apartheid a crime against humanity. Similarly, the global community intensified their support for our quest for a democratic South Africa through sanctions and the withdrawal of their diplomatic and business ties with South Africa.
This day, which has since been enacted as South Africa's Human Rights Day, is also used to highlight South Africa's quest to dismantle a divisive past that was characterised by human rights violation and abuse. It is also used to highlight South Africa's Bill of Rights, contained in the Freedom Charter, as a formidable commitment to a South Africa that values the rights of all its citizens, regardless of race, gender and geographic location. This day also celebrates the launch of the SA Human Rights Commission - one of the premier institutions for the protection of human rights - on 21 March 1996, 35 years after the fatal events of 21 March 1960.
It is this selfless act of bravery of the people of Sharpeville, Langa, Nyanga and Vanderbijlpark that enriched the doctrine of human rights in the ANC. This great liberation movement of our people has a history of gallant struggle and selfless sacrifice that led to the banishment and maiming of its leaders. It is through this quest for a democratic South Africa that today our nation is united in a common journey towards prosperity.
Hon Deputy Speaker, as a veteran of the ANC, with 61 years of unbroken service to the ANC ... [Applause.] ... I have lived to pay testimony to and narrate the stories of the courage of people in the fight against apartheid. I live to narrate the story of a liberation movement that has demonstrated its profound commitment to building a peaceful, nonracial and nonsexist democratic South Africa.
When we took up the fight against apartheid, we understood that the darkness was only momentary and that the sun would return to bathe the earth with light. Such was our optimism that we were inspired to take to the streets and face the might of apartheid and its armed forces with only one conviction.
In 1955, our nation took the fight against apartheid further when we adopted the Freedom Charter. The adoption of the Freedom Charter was a milestone that articulated our vision for South Africa. It is this important document that clearly articulated our fight for human rights and the dignity of all our people when we said: "All shall enjoy equal human rights."
During the 1950s, the ANC and women structures fought intense struggles against the pass laws and other discriminatory laws. The Anti-Apartheid Campaign of 1952 clearly demonstrated the plight of those who were denied rights, particularly the black people. The adoption of the Freedom Charter produced a concrete programme for economic and political liberation. By this time, both men and women were united in a common struggle for the right to vote, equality before the law and human dignity. Building on the Freedom Charter, the negotiation approach of the ANC reflected the necessity for reference to all rights contained in the charter. During 1989, the ANC presented a document called "Constitutional Guidelines for a Democratic South Africa".
In 1991, the ANC adopted the Constitutional Principles for a Democratic South Africa on the eve of the April constitutional negotiations. The Constitutional Principles for a Democratic South Africa reflected the will of the majority of the people by guaranteeing our people's fundamental human rights, which are clearly ascribed in the Bill of Rights.
The ANC guidelines further articulated that the courts should have a primary role in ensuring that the Bill of Rights is operative, and created the Constitutional Court that enjoys the support of the people and serves all South Africans in an independent and accountable manner. It further articulated that the Human Rights Commission should ensure that human rights violations are investigated. This process led to the 1993 Interim Constitution and resulted in the 1996 Constitution.
We are indeed proud of our Constitution, which is the supreme law of the Republic and seeks to protect the human rights of our people. It is a profound framework that guides our people in building a democratic South Africa and that says: "Never shall we go back to our terrible divided past." The Constitution guarantees human rights for all, including human dignity; the right to privacy; the right to freedom of expression and association; the right to vote; regular multiparty elections or democracy; the right to a fair trial; and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law; and an independent judiciary.
There is no doubt that the adoption of the Constitution represents a decisive break with the repressive past that divided our nation's shared future. Indeed, our Constitution remains a useful instrument to guide our quest to dismantle the pillars of apartheid and build a better life for all our people.
We are indeed proud that since the beginning of the political transformation in the early 1990s, our government has made concerted efforts to build a South Africa that respects and values the rights of its citizens. We have moved decisively to dismantle all apartheid legislation that sought to divide our people on the basis of their race, gender, social status and location. We have decisively moved to redress the social imbalances that were created by apartheid.
We are aware that we have a long way to go and that some of our people are still battling with some of the most inhuman conditions. We are aware that some of our people still face poverty, have no access to services, and have no employment. But, steadily, the dark clouds of despair are lifting, giving way to our season of hope. Our country, which for centuries has bled from a thousand wounds, is progressing towards its healing. We are a nation at work to build a better life for all our people.