SAHRC urges more action against inequality on Freedom Day
The South African Human Rights Commission of South Africa (SAHRC) has called on the government to strengthen measures that address inequality in the country.
The call comes as the country celebrates Freedom Day on Sunday.
The commission's spokesperson, Wisani Baloyi said historically disadvantaged people continue to be systematically excluded from economic and social activities, which continues to deepen poverty, inequality, development, and lack of social harmony.
He added that Freedom Day is a reminder that the rights that people have and exercise today were not freely attained.
“Many people who dared the apartheid regime were displaced, tortured, and killed for rightfully demanding fundamental human rights such as equality, freedom, and justice for all as enshrined in the Freedom Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Baloyi.
He explained that corruption, maladministration, lack of service delivery, and stagnant economic growth are challenges that continue to have a massive impact on the poor and the marginalised.
Baloyi said the Commission has called on authorities in every sphere of government to use the opportunity to revisit the Constitutional imperatives and the Bill of Rights.
“As such, the Commission calls on every government department to discharge their mandates to deliver services and all role players to play their roles to accelerate programmes aimed at addressing poverty, inequality, and development in our country.”
He also asked the Government to be human rights-centred when discharging their responsibilities and to play key roles in intensifying constitutional literacy.
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