Cyril Ramaphosa Gives Keynote Speech at the Country’s Observance of Human Rights Day

President Ramaphosa: Sixty-four years have passed since the ground on which we gather here in Sharpeville bore witness to one of the worst atrocities committed by the apartheid regime against the South African people.

And although many decades have passed, we still remember with great sorrow and pain the 69 people who were killed and the many more who were maimed as they protested in peace against the grave injustices imposed upon them.

We still recall how every black South African – African, coloured and Indian was denied the basic human rights to which they were entitled.

We gather here in Sharpeville on this day so that we may pay tribute to those who fought for the rights that we today hold so dear, so that we may remember the severe hardships they endured and the great sacrifices that they made.

This year we celebrate 30 years of freedom. And as we celebrate this milestone, we will reflect on the journey we have taken towards the full realisation of the fundamental freedoms contained in our Bill of Rights.

We will count the elections that we have held every five years since 1994, elections that have been peaceful, free and fair and that have reflected the will of the people.

As we celebrate 30 years of Freedom, we will reflect on the progress made in progressively realising the social and economic rights contained in our Constitution. We have much to celebrate. Millions of South Africans have been lifted out of dire poverty.

Eight out of every 10 households have proper housing. Nine out of every 10 homes have electricity and access to clean drinking water. Far fewer women are dying in child birth and far fewer children are dying in infancy.

More children from poor families are completing school, passing matric and going on to study at universities and colleges.

This has been made possible because we have, as a country, focused on correcting the injustices of the past and meeting the needs of the poor and excluded.

Working together, we have returned nearly 4 million of hectares of land to people who had been dispossessed of their land and acquired over 5 million hectares of land for redistribution and to provide security of tenure for labour tenants & other farm dwellers.