Human rights festival a triumph while marking Sharpeville massacre in 1960.
The Constitution Hill precinct was alive with all manner of stalls, performances, exhibitions and more, including a drumming circle to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Food stalls and small stores had their wares on sale.
Every year, to commemorate the killing of 69 and wounding of 180 in Sharpeville on March 21, 1960, South Africa gives thanks for the freedoms now enshrined in our Constitution. The police opened fire into a peaceful civilian crowd who was protesting against pass laws.
Portrait of Helen Joseph done by artist Navan Chetty.
Lindokuhle Ncube represents the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, in particular their youth work to conscientise and support future leaders in South Africa.
Rejoyce Motaung and Dorah Kgathi from Amnesty International encourage voters to vote for a party they believe will best uphold and enforce human rights in the country.
The Freedom Charter Portraits exhibition opened with guests and members of the public listening to moving speeches before viewing the extraordinary paintings of struggle icons.
Mavlidi Madjidi, Chipo Hansungule and Sharon Ekambaram from Lawyers for Human Rights, a non-profit, non-governmental human rights organisation, started by a group of activist lawyers in 1979.
Portrait of Zachairah Matthews done by artist Navan Chetty.
Solitary confinement cells at Constitution Hill.
Ektaa Deochand, Tsukudo Moroeng and Puleng Mosia from the Legal Resource Centre spend the day networking and meeting new individuals and organisations they can partner with.
Women from Khulumani sang while demanding the government pay reparations for victims of apartheid and implement the TRC recommendations.
Rejoyce Motaung and Dorah Kgathi from Amnesty International encourage voters to vote for a party that they believe will best uphold and enforce human rights in the country.
The stage for singers, poets and activists was a focus point for visitors to the human rights festival.
A guard’s watch tower at Constitution Hill.
During the afternoon a drumming circle was held in support of the people of Gaza – members of the public brought their drums to play in a rhythmic act of solidarity.
Andries Sibanyni and Tshedza Sikhwari from Defend Our Democracy spread the word about the Election Watch programme for which they are still recruiting election observers.
Lara Reddy and Radesh Moodley from the International Labour, Research and Information Group which champions popular political education with grass-roots organisations and activists.
Malesela Ledwaba from the IEC was on hand to explain any questions those visiting the festival might have ahead of the upcoming polls.
Constitution Hill where the highest court in the land sits, in the space of a former prison, held its annual Human Rights Day festival. This year, 30 years after the fall of apartheid, organisations and individuals gathered to pay tribute to those who fought in the struggle for the freedoms the country now enjoys. Certainly a celebration, but it was also a moment for pause. South Africa has become the most unequal country in the world leaving the hard graft of realising the dreams set out in the Freedom Charter left largely to civil society more broadly to work towards.
