Kliptown - President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans to use Human Rights Day to pause, reflect and roll up their sleeves and help government to make the country a better place.
"Let us celebrate the right of being South Africans and of living in this wonderful country, whose people defeated colonial and racial oppression, to build a country that belongs to all," said the President, during an event to mark Human Rights Day at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Soweto on Wednesday.
He told the hundreds gathered at the event to use the day to celebrate the right to life, to equality before the law, human dignity, freedom and security of the person, freedom from slavery, servitude or forced labour, the right to privacy, freedom of movement, religion, belief and opinion as well as the rights of workers, women and children.
Human Rights Day remembers the Sharpeville Massacre in which 69 people were killed during a peaceful protest again the pass laws. Today marks 52 years since the massacre.
Zuma said the day should also be used to celebrate the Constitution and in particular, the Bill of Rights. He urged people to familiarise themselves more with this supreme law of the land and appreciate its liberating features.
"We must never take our freedom and human rights for granted," he said.
Zuma, who used his speech to educate the crowds gathered at the event about the country's human rights struggle, said government would continue to make sure that every South African is able to enjoy their rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
He said since 1994, the national housing programme had delivered 2.8 million houses which provided shelter to 13.5 million people. By December 2011, government had provided 87% of rural households with water, and 75% with access to sanitation. A total of 15 million people, mainly vulnerable groups such as children, older persons and people with disabilities receive social grants. Eight million children obtain free education and 29 hospitals in rural and urban areas are under construction, while 17 others are in the planning and design stage.
"We have done well indeed in a short space of time. However, we are aware that as more people gain access to these socio-economic rights, many more still live in hardship, due to decades of neglect," said Zuma.
He said government was serious about getting the country working and it was for this reason that government had to grow the economy and improve the general standard of living in what he labelled as the second phase freedom and transition towards a prosperous South Africa.
"All of us have to roll up our sleeves and get down to some serious implementation work, to produce the platform for development, decent work and growth."
In this regard, the President was convinced that the infrastructure project which he first announced in his State of the Nation Address in February would lay the foundation for 20 or more years of growth, improved service delivery and jobs.
He said the plan would drive back poverty, unemployment, inequality and under-development while responding to the basic needs of all South Africans.
"The infrastructure plan recognises that black people are no longer temporary visitors in someone else's city - they are city dwellers, they have rights.
"Infrastructure for development is also about connecting rural communities to economic opportunities through building dams and irrigation systems. It will connect farms and villages to the energy grid and build schools and clinics in rural areas."
To a cheering crowd Zuma said cities should not be the only places with lights and tap water.
He added infrastructure was therefore at the heart of how government would change the lives of South Africans in the next decade.
The President said through working with the people, different sectors such as private sector, labour, education institutions, and all spheres of government, the country will be working smarter to make South Africa work for South Africans.
"We look forward to working with all South Africans to drive back poverty, unemployment and inequality."
Earlier in the day, Zuma went on a walkabout of the 10 pillars at the Monument of the Freedom Charter and lit the Freedom Charter Torch in recognition of the fact that the Freedom Charter was signed at Kliptown.
Among the delegates who attended were Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, Deputy Basic Education Minister Enver Surty and Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.
