Pretoria - Government is continuing to do all in its power to improve the quality of life of all South Africans, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said during a joint sitting debate on Human Rights.
“It is doing so, cognisant of the fact that such actions will further bolster equal human rights for all our people,” Minister Mthethwa said.
Speaking at the debate on Thursday, he said government was improving the quality of life of its people through its efforts of providing basic needs to communities, social grants, and access to electricity and health.
Government was improving the lives of its people by providing access to libraries and opening of doors of learning and culture, through universal provision of education and bursary schemes for higher education.
He called on South Africans to support the department’s social cohesion advocates who will be travelling across the country to deepen dialogue on the fundamental issues affecting society.
“The challenges of discriminatory practices in our society, such as racism, xenophobia, Afro-phobia, sexism, homophobia and related intolerances are still persistent.
“These are the blights on our path towards achieving a universal human rights culture,” Minister Mthethwa said.
The Department of Arts and Culture would be crisscrossing the country engaging in community conversations about issues on social cohesion.
“These campaigns…. are meant to cultivate within us, humanities best qualities. They are reminding us the noblest of principles for human kind,” Minister Mthethwa said.
He said the campaigns were aligned to the National Development Plan which encourages everyone to be active citizens by participating in nation building initiatives.
South Africa will be celebrating Human Rights Day on March 21 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape.
“The basis of Human Rights Day is the Sharpeville Massacre that took place on the 21st of March 1960 where 69 unarmed people were killed by apartheid police,” Minister Mthethwa said.
This year’s commemoration will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the massacre. – SAnews.gov.za
