By BAKANG MOKOTO
18 March 2025- The ANC Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Kgalalelo Makgokgowa on Tuesday, declared that 69 victims of the 21 March 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, did not die in vain, but died for South Africans to enjoy the freedoms they enjoy today. Makgokgowa said in their memory, they need to entrench the culture of human rights and redress inherited past imbalances that were created by white supremacists that continue to advocate for exclusion and protection of the infamous 1913 Land Act that justified land dispossession.
She further said the supporters of anti-transformation emboldened by extremists, who have no regard for multilateral institutions and human rights in South Africa, Palestine and everywhere across the globe, now have allies who have bought into their false narrative of imagined white genocide. Makgokgowa added that, the ANC, has nonetheless stayed determined to redress the past inequalities with legislation it has passed since the dawn of freedom to ensure that it overcomes institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that still haunts the historically marginalised to this day.
“We have nonetheless stayed determined to redress the past inequalities with legislation we have passed since the dawn of Freedom to ensure that we overcome institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that still haunts our people to this day.
“The Freedom Charter still finds expression in the ANC’s unwavering commitment towards achieving a united, non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and a democratic society. The dignity of our people will not be restored as long as they remain landless, unemployed and without hope for the future,” she said.
Makgokgowa underscored that the ANC’s progressive policies on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and discriminatory violence against the LGBTQ communities have been instrumental in protecting their human rights and dignities of the most vulnerable.
“We have shown our commitment to human rights by opening shelter for victims of Gender-Based Violence such as Thuthuzela and Khusela centers, offered psychological assistance through victim recovery programmes and ensured that our police stations and staff offer a victim friendly environment.
“We call on government to make the Sex Offender Register Public and see to the successful establishment of a fully functional and properly resourced National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, which will be a national structure to oversee a coordinated response to GBVF,” she said.
Makgokgowa said as they reflect on their journey, they reaffirm their commitment to building a South Africa, where no one is left behind. She said they must deepen the culture of human rights by holding leaders accountable, ensuring fair economic opportunities, as well as foster the spirit of social justice and ubuntu.
The Guardian 