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President Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the 69 peaceful protesters who were shot and killed in cold blood in the Sharpeville Massacre did not die in vain, but died for a future they themselves would never see.
Speaking at the official Human rights Day commemoration in Galeshewe, near Kimberley, Ramaphosa says the historic day reminds South Africans that human rights were not given on a silver platter, but that blood was shed for the freedoms the country enjoys today.
“The Constitution that Nelson Mandela, our President, chose to sign in Sharpeville is built on sacrifice. It is written in blood and resistance as well. Freedom carries with it a moral obligation to honour those who died for it. And that is why the preamble of our Constitution starts off by honouring those who suffered so that we can achieve this freedom. It is fitting that the place that had known so much suffering and tears should be the site on which a new South Africa would rise.”
The President adds that “Signing the Constitution into law was indeed the most significant act of our democratic era. To understand the full meaning of this day, we must also understand why we say it is Human Rights Day. It is about the origins of the rights that are enshrined in our constitution. Our constitution was not born in comfort. It was forged in struggle. It was shaped by injustice and it was designed to overcome injustice. The adoption of that constitution 30 years ago in many ways marked a turning point in human history. It declared unequivocally that every person has inherent dignity. Every citizen is equal before the law. And that freedom belongs to all who live in this land. It was in many ways a bold promise to ourselves and to the world that South Africa would never again deny the humanity of its people. It was also a clear moral commitment to build a society that is rooted in equality, freedom and human dignity.”
Human Rights Day 2026 | President Ramaphosa delivers keynote address
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JoBE7d4tzg
Earlier, President Ramaphosa handed over the Sport kits to Re Tlameleng Special School and 5 neighbouring schools within Sol Plaatje Local Municipality namely, ST Boniface High School; Boitshoko Primary School; West End Primary School; Montshiwa Primary School and Mr Tire.
As part of the 2026 Human Rights Day Legacy Programme, DSAC, together with National Library of South Africa, Provincial Department of Education in Northern Cape, MTN Foundation, implemented a legacy infrastructure project.
‘Importance of inclusion’
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has also highlighted the importance of inclusion and progress in the country.
McKenzie describes the school as having a special place in the nation’s heart, emphasising that South Africa’s democracy must leave no one behind, especially learners with disabilities.
He also notes the significance of the President’s visit later today, to officially open a new multi-purpose, multi-million rand sports centre aimed at nurturing talent and creating opportunities, including for future Paralympians
GALLERY| Glimpse of notable events around the country
