Human Rights Day public lecture at VUT

VANDERBIJLPARK.- A poignant public lecture, led by programme directors Khwezi Mpumlwana and Joseph Radebe, alongside various stakeholders, marked Human Rights Day at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) last Tuesday. The Sharpeville Massacre remains an indelible chapter in our nation’s history, serving as a stark reminder of the struggles endured during the apartheid era.

Among the esteemed stakeholders were Vice-Chancellor and Principal of VUT, Prof Stephen Khehla Ndlovu; Chairperson of the National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC), Edgar Neluvhalani; CEO of NHC, Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni; keynote speaker Martins Matinise; representatives from the Khulumani Support Group; VUT Student Representative Council (SRC) President Twanano Hlogwani; and Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) Executive Mayor, Lerato Maroka.

The public lecture, held prior to schools and universities recessing for the first term, aimed to engage the youth and establish a lasting impact.

Attendees included students from VUT, as well as learners from Lebohang High School and Lekoa Shandu High School, who participated in spirited dances. The event underscored the imperative of restoring human dignity through heritage within 30 years of democracy, emphasizing the protection of the vulnerable and the promotion of human dignity.

The CEO of the National Heritage Council of South Africa, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, emphasised the event’s purpose: to ensure that the sacrifices of Sharpeville are not forgotten. Stakeholders were called upon to share their experiences with the youth, reinforcing that freedom comes at a cost and must be cherished.

“By retelling the stories of the martyrs, the spirit of their sacrifice continues to inspire.”