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HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH: Safety is not a privilege, it’s a right

29 March 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba

Human Rights UFS news — On 22 March 2023 students gathered on the Bloemfontein Campus for a celebration honouring Human Rights Day.

“As people we have the right to feel safe within the environment in which we live, no matter the circumstances. We cannot walk on the streets being fearful of what might transpire. We have the SAPS which has the constitutional obligation to make sure we feel safe. On campus as students, we also have access to Protection Services, which is tasked with ensuring our safety. It is crucial to understand that we have this section 12 right to safety, because safety is not a privilege, it’s a right,” said Lutho Makhofola during a human rights celebration held on the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein Campus on 22 March 2023.

Lutho, a fourth year LLB student, is one of many Human Rights ambassadors who are part of the Free State Centre for Human Rights (FSCHR) which hosted the Human Rights Day celebration. The ambassadors led a dialogue with other fellow students under the national theme: ‘Consolidating and Sustaining Human Rights Culture into the Future’. In addition to robust discussions, students also tested their knowledge of the with a quiz before signing a pledge committing themselves to becoming livelong advocates for human rights.

Remembering 1960

Dr Annelie De Man, Coordinator in the Advocacy Division of the FSCHR, said the event was about celebrating the present while reflecting on the past. “The aim is to raise awareness around matters of human rights in celebration of Human Rights Day observed on 21 March.”

Human Rights Day in South Africa commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre which took place on 21 March 1960 where 69 died and 180 were injured when police opened fire on a crowd that had gathered to peacefully protest the pass laws. We now have the opportunity to contemplate on South Africa’s road to democracy, the realisation of change, and the advancement of human rights awareness both in the academic setting and society at large since this significant day in our nation's history unfolded 63 years ago.

Significance for students

According to Limeque Redgard, Student Assistant at the FSCHR and a former Human Rights ambassador, the purpose of the FSCHR Human Rights Day commemorative event was to inform and educate students about their rights, particularly the rights that apply to the university setting, to encourage reflection on those rights and how to exercise them responsibly.

“I believe that such events are important for students because we are in such a diverse space within the university, therefore such events bring us together for a common purpose and allow us to celebrate each other's diversity. Furthermore, the goal is to equip students for the world.”

News Archive

‘Many people disagree with me. My life is One Long Debate.’ – Ali A. Mazrui

2014-10-31

Prof Ndlovu-Gatsheni
Photo: Stephen Collet

The Vice-Chancellor and Rector, in conjunction with the Centre for Africa Studies, recently presented a memorial lecture in honour of the work and life of an academic giant, the late Prof Ali A. Mazrui.

Ali Al'amin Mazrui (24 February 1933 – 12 October 2014), was an academic professor and political writer on African and Islamic studies. Hy was born in Mombasa, Kenya and was an Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities, as well as Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, New York.

The lecture, held on Thursday 30 October 2014 in the Albert Wessels Auditiorium, was presented by Prof Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, Head of the Archie Mafeje Research Institute (AMRI) at UNISA.

His memorial lecture was entitled ‘Ali A Mazrui on the Invention of Africa and Postcolonial Predicaments’.

Prof Ndlovu-Gatsheni has published widely, including more than 47 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 45 chapters in books and 8 books. This includes The Ndebele Nation: Reflections on Hegemony, Memory and Historiography (Amsterdam & Pretoria: Rozenberg Publishers & UNISA Press, 2009), as well as Bondage of Boundaries and Identity Politics in Postcolonial Africa: The ‘Northern Problem’ and Ethno-Futures (Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa, 2013).

Prof Sabelo J Ndlovu-Gatsheni speech: ‘Ali A Mazrui on the Invention of Africa and Postcolonial Predicaments’.

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