Skip the speeches, let's have more action

March 21st?in South Africa is a public holiday?celebrating Human Rights Day.?To be honest, it's?not my favourite public holiday of the year; I just don't feel we have enough to celebrate.

We remember the Sharpeville Massacre on this day in 1960 which highlighted the violation of human rights in our country at that time. But, although everyone has attained fundamental freedoms and equality after a great struggle and much sacrifice, sadly, human rights violations and oppression in one form or another continue in our country to this day, in many different ways, unabated.

Traditionally, on Human Rights Day, we hear?about how wonderful our constitution, our?Bill of Rights is; one of the best in the world, on paper, but sorely lacking?in application.

Every day, millions of South Africans, across all socio-economic sectors, experience continuous violation of their safety,?human rights and dignity as a result of poverty, unemployment, poor to non-existent basic service delivery, lack of infrastructure, corruption and misappropriation of funds. Many?resort to crime for survival, an all too real consequence of everything mentioned here, that my family and I have experienced first hand. Life is cheap.

Human rights should be more than just a policy on a piece of paper

We may have a world class constitution but, what does that mean when your people are constantly living in fear, in survival mode??Human rights should be about more than just a?speech on?Human Right’s Day.

Political talk is cheap. Speeches are meaningless.?We need more conversations that matter and fewer speeches that don’t.

Most importantly, from our elected officials, we need to see leadership and integrity in action. Only then, will there be hope for human rights and human dignity in South Africa.

Human safety is at risk

When a country lacks leadership and cannot deliver services efficiently on the ground; when the economy isn’t growing; when jobs and cash are scarce and families are hungry, when corruption abounds, people will resort to destructive?behaviour, such as crime – to shine a light on the problems; to be heard, or just to survive. This is what human beings do.

Human safety is at risk for every South African, daily, precisely because basic human rights and dignity are not being protected.

To our government and any future government:

You have a mandate to lead us, to protect us and to create an environment/climate in which your citizens can grow and thrive, not just survive.?The majority of our population is constantly in survival mode doing what they can to look after themselves.

Young people are modelling their behaviour on what you do or don’t do,?and that is extremely disturbing because you are providing a poor example of responsible, accountable and productive leadership.

To our citizens:

This is an election year, you need to take action:

• Are you happy with service delivery in your area? If not, please think about which party you think will manage service delivery best.
• Make sure you stand in line and cast your vote on 29 May 2024.? Your vote is your voice.

Many people will enjoy having a day off on 21 March.?

Because I strongly feel we do not have enough to celebrate, I choose to work on this day every year.?On 21 March?I will be helping a number of South African small business owners and entrepreneurs to build stronger teams and operations so that they can achieve greater success, impact and influence. In this way, they can employ more people and support more families, to live a better life.

We need more conversations as well as practical and consistent actions that matter, and fewer speeches that don't!