Human rights lawyer reminds Hillbrow community of their rights and values enshrined in the South African Constitution
JOBURG - The Bill of Rights was put in place to safeguard human rights and brought an end to centuries of state-sanctioned abuse.
Human Rights lawyer, Simphiwe Buthelezi advised a gathering attended by various communities in Hillbrow that they must not take their human rights for granted.
Buthelezi of Buthelezi Attorney’s Law Firm, delivered a comprehensive lecture about the importance of human rights and reminded the gathering that they were enshrined in the South African Constitution. He was part of a delegation that addressed the gathering.
In an exclusive interview with North Eastern Tribune, Buthelezi said the 1996 Constitution completed the South African constitutional revolution and brought about a fundamental change in the country.
Read: 5 facts about Human Rights Day in South Africa
“One of the most critical is the Bill of Rights which was put in place to safeguard human rights, ending centuries of State-sanctioned abuse.
“Post 96, the courts were given the power to declare invalid, any law or conduct inconsistent with the Constitution,” said Buthelezi.
The Constitution, he said, opened up with a preamble which called upon all of us to heal the divisions of the past and to establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.
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Buthelezi said Human Rights Day which was celebrated on 21 March, was the day on which the world reflected and assessed the progress we were making in enshrined basic human rights and values.
He added that it was important for all to take part in this annual commemoration. He further urged people to familiarise themselves with their human rights, saying it was the supreme law of the land.
Read: Only 10 % of citizens know the constitution – Human Rights Commission
Buthelezi said we needed to celebrate Human Rights Day by upholding our constitutional obligations of treating one another equally and with dignity.
He quoted two famous speeches made by human rights activists Nelson Mandela and Eleanor Roosevelt in 1994 and 1948 respectively.
