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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

PwC invests in student potential at UFS

2017-02-28

Description:PwC invests in student potential Tags: PwC invests in student potential longdesc=

From the left are: Cassius Coetzee, Marketing
Manager at PwC, Mbalentle Mdange and
Clementine Molaeng, both accounting students
at the UFS, and Belinda Janeke from the Career
Development Office at the UFS.
Photo: Siobhan Canavan

Corporate Bloemfontein has made it its mission to invest in the potential of students, which is exactly what PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) set out to do with its competition for accounting students.

PwC to join UFS Career Fair in 2017

The Career Development Office at the University of the Free State (UFS), in partnership with PwC, held a competition in which students had the opportunity to win book vouchers.

Cassius Coetzee, marketing manager at PwC, did the handover at the UFS which saw Mbalentle Mdange and Clementine Molaeng each walk away with book vouchers to the value of R1500, as well as goodie bags from the Career Development Office.

Belinda Janeke from the Career Development Office said it was always a pleasure working with the PwC team and said they would be joining the UFS Career Fair later this year.

Corporate companies and the community

Vicky Simpson, from the Department of Institutional Advancement, said there were businesses and organisations that believed in making a difference in the lives of students. “We commend each of them for their passion and enthusiasm. Collaboration is the key to the success of our community. People matter to us and even more so, the important role we play within our community.”

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